X-RAY specialist Bede has gained an important foothold in the Japanese semi-conductors market which could pave the way for significant future work.

The Durham company has secured its first contract in the country for the new BedeMetrix system.

The product is Bede's latest advance in technology used to monitor the production of a range of materials being used for next generation semiconductor manufacturing.

The order, placed by a leading consortium of buyers and manufacturers, holds dual significance.

It is the first success for Bede's tie-up with one of Japan's leading distributors, Tokyo Electron Limited (Tel).

The two companies agreed an exclusive deal last year, but fierce domestic competition and reticence by Japanese companies to invest in new technology blocked Bede's progress into the country.

It is also significant because the contract, with an undisclosed value, shows Japan could now be ready to start spending money on designing the semi-conductors of the future.

Japan was one of the hardest hit by the dramatic downturn in the semi-conductor market at the turn of the century.

But it is predicted to be one of the first to turn the corner as its economy is believed to be strengthening quickly.

Neil Loxley, Bede chief executive, described the contract as a "breakthrough point".

He said: "This contract proves we can compete with the domestic market.

"We won the order on technical merit, because we can do things nobody else can do.

"The Japanese semi-conductor market has been in the doldrums for the past five years. This contract is evidence that things are moving in the right direction."

Japan accounts for 25 per cent of the global semi-conductor market - the monitoring and testing of semi-conductors alone amounting to £1.5bn each year.