A SPECIALIST engineering company is delighted to be expanding its overseas market thanks to a six-figure funding deal.

Optima Control Solutions provides hi-tech machinery and systems for industries which include the production of food and drink, pharmaceuticals, metal, plastics, paper and packaging.

The firm which is based at Capricorn Park in Blackburn, has now secured a major order from South Korea, and needs to buy in more stock to produce the machinery which will be exported to the Asian country.

To meet the demands of the order, bosses at Optima secured £250,000 of working capital from UK Export Finance and NatWest.

This helped the company ensure it had enough cashflow to pay its suppliers before receiving payment itself.

Michael Hill, managing director at Optima, said: “We’re an independent company which means we’re able to integrate any manufacturer’s equipment in the systems we design.

“Our real differentiator however is the depth of expert knowledge that we hold for a wide range of industrial applications.

“Having this knowledge allows us to deliver robust solutions that meet the diverse needs of our customers.”

The company was started in 1995 by Michael Hill and Adrian West to specialise in designing and supplying electro-mechanical control systems, and now employs 20 people.

Michael Hill said: “I was delighted with the support provided by NatWest.

“We’re confident we can take on similar customers in the future.”

Ian Harrison, senior relationship manager at NatWest, said: “In order to facilitate Optima’s ambitious export expansion plans, the collaboration between them, NatWest and UKTI was essential and ultimately enabled the completion of a very successful contract.

“It has been a pleasure to have assisted Optima in establishing themselves within the global market.”