A PIPELINE maintenance company’s general manager said his company’s performance gave hope to small businesses after it enjoyed its busiest year, despite the economic downturn.

North Yorkshire-based Inpipe Products, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, is on target to achieve its highest ever turnover.

The Catterick company manufactures pipeline maintenance machines, known as pigs, which it supplies worldwide.

The company said it had undoubtedly been aided by its largest ever order, worth £500,000.

The order, placed by Petrojet, in Algeria, was sent from the firm’s headquarters, on the Walkerville Industrial Estate, shortly before Christmas.

Inpipe general manager Ray Schofield said: “It gives hope in this current economic climate that small businesses can still do well on a global scale.

“Having worked with Petrojet for over ten years, we are delighted that our relationship has developed so successfully.

“We are pleased that our products and professional service have been key in securing to this order, which we hope will be the first of many orders of this size.”

As well as supplying the petrochemical, oil, gas and water industries, the company also manufactures products for the food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Its investment in research and design has resulted in the company producing and patenting products that are now regarded as industry norms.

The first patented product was a pig signalling device in 1986.