MANUFACTURING firms are hoping to win a clutch of orders after flying the flag for East Lancashire.

A total of 15 companies were represented on the East Lancashire Manufacturing stand at a major subcontracting exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham.

The stand at Subcon '98, which included toolmakers, and injection moulding firms, was organised by the East Lancashire Promotions Partnership.

And exhibitor PDS Engineering, the Nelson firm which played a leading role in the Thrust SSC land speed record car, won an award during the exhibition. The firm won the Best International Subcontractor (Machining) title in an industry competition.

"When we took the Thrust through the sound barrier I was telling everyone that some of the best engineers in the world are in East Lancashire," said John Getty, chairman of PDS.

"Winning this prestigious award against the toughest competition in the engineering industry is surely proof of our capabilities in the region."

Other exhibitors on the East Lancashire stand were the Chamber of Commerce, Consortium of Lancashire Aerospace, Weston, Trojan Metals, Sparta, Marbill Developments, the Pendle Group, Keith Newmark, Nelson Metalcraft, M&G Plastics, Glen Castings, ESB Engineering, Dale Polymers, and Advanced Technical Coatings.

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