A KEIGHLEY engineering company is booming.

Teconnex, which manufactures clamps, has completed a £2 million-plus expansion programme at its Chesham Street headquarters.

And its global presence, across automotive and industrial markets, is continuing to grow.

The firm's two-acre Bronte Works site includes a new office and administration block and additional warehousing facilities.

Since 2008 the company's workforce has spiralled from 172 to 400, making it the biggest private sector employer in Keighley, and more jobs are in the pipeline.

In the same period, turnover has virtually doubled and is forecast to hit £28 million in the current financial year.

Managing director Paul Sleaford said: "We have invested extensively in our Keighley head office operation across all areas – plant, equipment, manufacture, test, in-house computer-aided design and quality assurance – and, importantly, in our people.

"What makes us unique in our industry sector is that while we manufacture clamps – around 200,000 a week at the last count, of different shapes and sizes and for a multitude of applications – we design and make them specifically to our customers’ specifications. We first look at an application and then design a clamp for it. This sets us apart from our competitors and gives us a cutting edge."

He added: "We have long felt that we represent one of the town’s business success stories.

"As Keighley’s largest employer, we have a major impact on the local economy – one that will be further cemented, as we are now actively seeking to recruit more people across-the-board to fulfil both current and planned future growth potential."

Teconnex was born out of a merger of two former clamp manufacturers, Connectors and Smith & Johnson.

Privately-owned group holding company Hexadex Ltd bought Connectors in 1987 and combined it with Smith & Johnson a decade later.

Over 80 per cent of Teconnex's products are exported across Europe, the USA, South America, Japan, China, Korea and Australia.

Its overseas growth was boosted two years ago when the firm set up a joint venture company with Chinese manufacturer Funwick, now known as Teconnex Funwick Engineering.

"It represents an important milestone in our continuing evolution and presents us with key future opportunities to make further inroads into the Eastern markets," said Mr Sleaford.

"The potential is vast."