Houghton International's recent USA win is a $40,000 order for the company's high voltage coils that will repair a power station generator in Pennsylvania. It is significant, however, because it is the firm's first contract win from the USA since 2001, due mainly to the pound weakening against the dollar.

With its existing 40,000 square foot Team Valley site already operating to capacity, Express Engineering has taken on an additional 18,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space.

Steve Brettle Fabrication Limited, a steel fabrication and welding company, has secured enough work in the petrochemical sector to keep its workforce busy until at least April or May next year.

Northern Construction Solutions have relocated from Sunderland to Lumley Court in Chester-le-Street in order to provide more space for the growing workforce. The business, which was set up by directors Sean Anderson and Dave Gardner in 2002, had a turnover of £6m at the end of March and is likely to exceed £8m by the end of the year. The directors are confident that the company will be turning over £20m within the next 5 years. They currently employ 45 people, an increase of 60% over the last year.

Watson Norie Limited, whose head office is based in Newcastle, has a wide range of clients across the UK and an annual turnover of approximately £28m. The firm was established in 1920, and now has satellite offices in Scunthorpe and Grangemouth.

Opportunities for manufacturers to profit from the move to a low carbon economy were highlighted in a report complied earlier this year by the manufacturers' organisation EEF.