A NORTH-East pipe specialist has won a lucrative contract in Australia.

Pipe Equipment Specialists (PEL) Limited is a major supplier and hirer of equipment to the pipe and cable laying market. It designs,manufactures and sells products for water and gas industries.

The company, based in Thornaby, Teesside, is celebrating its first export to Australia following three years of negotiations.

PEL has won a contract with a company in Sydney to supply pipe equipment in Tasmania.

The contract was secured with the support of UK Trade and Investment, the government's foreign trade operation.

Steve Kent, PEL managing director, said: "The contract is very lucrative and will generate tens of thousands of pounds for the business.

"We have also exported to Hong Kong and Singapore in the past 12 months and our overseas market is looking very healthy."

Following a management buy-out nine years ago, PEL was granted a licence from Advantica - the development and research operation of British Gas - to manufacture equipment for Swagelining technology.

The technology uses tight-fitting polyethylene instead of steel, which the company said adds significantly to the life of new or existing pipelines.

Mr Kent said: "We are probably one of the few companies in the world doing this kind of work.

"The majority of our products are designed in-house to meet customer requirements. In addition, our in-house design team also undertakes design and development work for pipe manufacturers and suppliers."

PEL's customers include utility companies, pipe manufacturers and contractors and they are supplied either directly, or through distributors in the UK and overseas. About 50 per cent of the company's work comes from overseas.

Peter Northway, UK Trade and Investment's international trade advisor at Business Link Tees Valley, said: "Pipe Equipment Specialists Limited has already invested a lot of time and money into developing its products. By reaching out to new overseas markets, it can access many more potential customers."