A CAR turbo company has seen high-speed growth partly driven by the global economy.

Just over two years after it was established as a one-man operation, Darlington-based Turbo Solutions has taken on more staff and is moving into larger premises.

The company, founded by owner Tim Waterson in 2007 and employing nine people, is one of the few in the UK dealing in the supply of complete new turbochargers and replacement reconditioned units to the trade and private individuals.

And the first few months of this year have been its busiest ever as people look to maintain cars rather than trading them in.

Office manager Louise Martin said: “Our sales have gone up by 30 to 40 per cent in the first few months of the year.

“People with problems with their cars in the past would perhaps have traded them in, but now the finance isn’t there people are keeping their original cars and maintaining them.”

The company is now preparing to move to premises in Red Barnes Way, from a unit in Morton Park Way.

Ms Martin said: “We need to expand because we are bursting out of the seams of the premises we are in.

“We thought they would last longer, but the business has grown a lot quicker than we anticipated.

“We have just recently taken on two new members of staff, one in the office and one in the workshop for engineering.

We are hoping that the company will continue to grow and need more people.”

The turbo charger market in this country is a specialist industry and Turbo Solutions receives orders from across the UK and Ireland.

Ms Martin said: “It is a very niche market, there is only a handful of turbo charger companies in the UK.

“Customers come from all over the UK.

“We use a national courier and can go from the far end of Scotland to the far south of the country and ship over to Ireland.”

The company was advised on the move to the new premises by North-East law firm Mincoff Jacksons.

Mincoff Jacksons commercial property partner Jane Armitage said: “Turbo Solutions seems to be bucking the recession trend so we are delighted to have helped Tim Waterson and his team.

“In order to purchase their new property they had to obtain change of planning use from car showroom to manufacturing and offices, the result of which has meant that they can press ahead with their expansion plans.”