A STOURBRIDGE manufacturing specialist is celebrating the best 12 months in its 67-year history after turnover doubled.

Worcester Presses, which provides a range of mechanical and hydraulic presses, sold more than 50 machines last year following strong growth in the UK’s automotive, aerospace and construction sectors, turning over £2.8 million.

Bosses at the firm’s Titan Works factory even took on five new staff to cope with the demand for its services, which includes its first US export, and are looking for even further growth when it exhibits at MACH 2016 in April.

Russell Hartill, sales director, said: “We’ve never seen demand reach this level before, especially in such a short space of time. If you think we’ve more than doubled turnover, you begin to understand the scale of what we’ve achieved.”

The Old Wharf Road-based firm, which now employs 13 people, has beaten off international competition thanks to its ability to customise the machines to suit bespoke configurations.

On the back of increased sales, there has also been expansion in the firm’s servicing department, with the recruitment of a new manager, engineer and fitter.