'The tube work used for the pulpits can often be in excess of 100ft and, because of their size and the fact that they need to arrive in spotless condition, they can’t practically be imported,' said operations director Andy Sims. 'This gave us a perfect opportunity to diversify and get a foothold in this new market.'

Cooney was helped in setting up the production for the new contract by the Manufacturing Advisory Service in the East Midlands (MAS EM).

'They urgently needed help getting the manufacturing process going and this meant reorganising the current floor space and reviewing the company’s present customer base,' said MAS EM practitioner John Ransford.

MAS EM then worked closely with managing director James Cooney and his team to create additional floor space providing enough room to make the tubing and polish it.

'We had to do a clever rethink of how to rearrange the current factory layout, freeing up as much dead space as possible,' said Mr Ransford.

MAS EM also helped Mr Cooney introduce production control systems that are helping considerably with scheduling, cost control and on-time deliveries.

'With better shop floor data now available, on-time deliveries are already up from 55% to 80% and are continuing to improve,' said Mr Cooney. 'We’ve also managed to recover all the lost time on the first orders that came through, which is fantastic.'

Cooney is expected to turn over around £4.5m this year, a £1m rise on 2007. The family-owned business, which employs nearly 70 local people, makes everything from cleats and hinges to metalwork on decks and passerelles.