ADVANCED imaging company e-comeleon has secured the exclusive worldwide rights to put images on a new range of replacement phone covers and cases, featuring world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.

The digital imaging work will be undertaken by the company, of Tanfield Lea, Stanley, County Durham, for Manpus Mouldings, which has secured the worldwide licensing rights for the use of the German driver's image on mobile phone fascias.

E-comeleon and Manpus will collaborate on the production of a range of exclusive designs for the products, highlighting the record-breaking achievements of the grand prix superstar.

The £500,000 order is the first significant piece of business for e-comeleon since it floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), in December.

Delivery of the order, which lasts for 18 months, starts this week.

The directors of e-comeleon believe the order demonstrates the high quality of the comeleon process, and is an early indicator of how positively the market views the company's technology.

E-comeleon has licence agreements with Nokia for Europe, the Middle-East and Africa, and has just signed a similar deal with Siemens.

As a result, production levels have increased from two to three shifts, to meet the increasing demand.

Roy Stanley, chief executive of the company, said: "I am extremely pleased by our progress to date.

"The Schumacher order is our biggest so far, and shows the increasing potential for our process in the market place.

"The recognition of our expertise by Siemens is a very important vote of confidence.

"We continue to build a solid platform from which to achieve our planned growth.

"I look forward to reporting on further progress in due course."