A GROWING North-East engineering firm is targeting new business at the region's biggest inter-trading and networking event.

Dyer Engineering was one of the first companies to commit as an exhibitor at the inaugural Durham Oktoberfest in 2008 and has been involved every year since.

As it prepares to exhibit for a seventh year running, the Stanley, County Durham-based company revealed it can directly attribute three new clients and dozens of business leads to the event. And this year the company, which employs 120 people and is aiming to increase turnover from £8m to £12m by 2016, is planning on continuing that positive trend.

Dyer Engineering's Financial Director Richard Bradley said: "Our region has so many strengths within the fields of engineering and manufacturing and Durham Oktoberfest is the perfect platform to showcase them and to give our companies the chance to shout about what they do.

"It's also the ideal opportunity to meet potential clients and that's why we come back year after year. We know we can talk to companies who are genuinely interested in what we do and want to find out more about our business and how we can work together.

"And we are proof the event works. Over the last six years we have added three new customers to our portfolio as well as made many positive business leads and this year we are hoping to add to that."

Dyer Engineering works with companies across the country in a range of engineering disciplines, including fabrication and welding, specialist coatings and assembly, rapid response engineering and component manufacture.

Mr Bradley urged other SMEs to get involved in Durham Oktoberfest, which will feature some of the North-East's biggest employers including Ebac, Heerema, Northumbrian Water and Parker Hannifin, who are registered for Meet the Buyer, while exhibitors include Hiatco, the Bignal Group, Eastern Seals, Inspection and Engineering Services (IES) and Microbac Ltd.

This year's Durham Oktoberfest, which is organised by Durham's engineering forums in the north, south and east of the county, takes place on Thursday, October 23, at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe.

For more information, visit www.durhamoktoberfest.org.uk, email info@durhamoktoberfest.org.uk or call 0191 3037772.