ONE of the region's engineering companies is planning to expand after its order book reached an all-time high only months after the company saw its turnover soar to a record.

Rosh Engineering now has orders worth more than £600,000, and last year's £2m turnover is predicted to rise by 20 per cent next year.

The firm, based in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, also revealed that orders had exceeded £400,000 three times in the past year, compared to only once before in its 26-year history.

Deals with major clients EDF Energy, Scottish and Southern Energy, United Utilities and the National Grid have also reached a record high since the start of the year, generating more than £1m.

Ian Dormer, managing director of Rosh, said the company was planning to increase its workforce of 30 and was intending to break into new international markets.

He said: "Our order book stands at more than £600,000, and we have achieved all that in the past six weeks.

"Even if we did not get one more order in until January, we still have more orders now than we had between August 2006 and last January, so we are more than four months ahead of ourselves.

"We are doing very well, and we are predicting turnover this year will rise to £2.4m, about 20 per cent up on last year.

"Financially, commercially and in terms of recruiting new people, we have seen growth in the company, and we are planning for that to continue."

The company specialises in the repair, refurbishment and installation of transformers and high- voltage equipment from its base on the Newtown Industrial Estate, in Birtley.

Rosh already works in Ireland and the Netherlands, and Mr Dormer said that was an area of the business the company would be looking to build on.

He said: "We are looking at expanding the work we do abroad, and trying to develop what we already do.

"We are already carrying out work in Ireland and the Netherlands, and are also trying to increase our business in these markets."