A £2.5 MILLION investment in a state-of-the-art factory is paying dividends for high-performance seals specialist Precision Polymer Engineering.

Advanced manufacturing facilities in a new purpose-built factory on the Greenbank Business Park in Blackburn is already attracting new business for its technical rubber products.

PPE now exports around 65 per cent of its production and its new factory has been designed to meet growing international demand for its products.

The new 35,000sq ft factory features design and manufacturing facilities, including cleanroom technology, vital for its customers in the semi-conductor and pharmaceutical industries.

Founded in Blackburn more than 25 years ago by chairman Peter Cummings, PPE has built a reputation for excellence in seal design and manufacture.

The company produces rubber components for critical applications in a range of industries that includes aerospace, analytical instruments, automotive, chemical, food and dairy equipment, marine and static diesel and gas engines, oil and gas exploration and production, petrochemicals, power generations and transmission.

Peter, who describes his role with the business as "strategic", said PPE was planning to increase its overseas marketing and was attending a series of trade shows in Europe and the United States.

"Over the past two years, we have successfully won business in the highly-competitive semi-conductor market in the United States, as well as the European chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech industries," said Peter. "The new factory has give us the increased quality and capacity we need to continue growing."

PPE puts its success down to the skills and commitment of its employees in the design and manufacture of innovative sealing solutions.

Managing director Peter Cloney said the PPE workforce of just under 100 had worked hard in completing the move from Roe Lee to Greenbank without losing any production.

"Given that many of our customers demand absolute purity, it is fair to say that our old factory was denying us growth opportunities," he said. "We have now overcome that and we expect our export sales to continue to grow."

Another factor in PPE's ability to win high-performance contracts has been the development of its range of perfluoroelastomers, offering high levels of chemical resistance and the flexibility of a rubber seal, under the brand name Perlast.

"Perlast is the most technically advanced perfluoroelastomer available in the market today and is gaining a reputation for delivering excellent sealing performance in the most demanding of conditions," added Peter Cloney.