FILTRATION firm domnick hunter is celebrating winning its first order for its Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) protection systems.

The Birtley, County Durham-based business, has signed a £3.6m deal with Tyneside tank builder Vickers to equip a range of engineering tanks with the systems.

Domnick hunter will equip 66 new vehicles with the systems over a three-year period.

It also expects to start a programme of fitting the system to engineering tanks already in service with the British Army.

The news came as the company reported a 2.9 per cent rise in operating profit to £5.2m for the six months to June 30.

The domnick hunter group is a world leader in the business of providing high efficiency filters and dryers for compressed air and gases. It also has a significant presence in the world market for air sterilisation and liquid filters, and for on-site gas generators.

More than 80 per cent of the group's products are sold overseas, with 25 per cent going into the US market.

Group chief executive Colin Billiet, said: "The Vickers contract win is the biggest order we have had for three years, and comes at a time when the world recession is starting to bite.

"More than 80 per cent of our products are sold overseas, with 25 per cent being sold in the US. We expect that market to be even bigger when the recession comes to an end."

The Vickers contract win brings to an end eight years of development of the NBC systems.

The Ministry of Defence still has to give its final technical approval to the system, but domnick hunter is confident that that will happen over the next year.

Despite the continued economic uncertainties in the world markets, domnick hunter expects to carry its good first half performance into the full year.

Mr Billiet said: "This business is recession resistant, but not recession proof. However, we would expect to continue our good start to the year.

"The prospects for the second half remain positive. Our continued investment in new products and the expansion of our overseas sales companies holds the group in good stead for the future.

Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of 3.70p per share.