A TECHNOLOGY firm says new automotive work can drive forward plans to create a world-class manufacturing operation in the North-East.

Stadium Group is targeting greater transport projects as it plots to make its Hartlepool plant a globally renowned site.

The company has also refused to rule out creating new jobs at the factory, where it employs about 120 people, as it remodels itself from a solely electronic manufacturing services firm to a design-led business.

Bosses say they have spent millions to strengthen Hartlepool’s capabilities, adding it now has a raft of high-tech equipment and certification needed to bid for lucrative automotive work.

They added the changes mean the company can fully overcome the effects of a contract snub suffered earlier this year, when a wireless telematics operator took on design work and switched manufacturing elsewhere.

Charlie Peppiatt, chief executive, told The Northern Echo that Stadium, known for designing and making vehicle control panels, wireless devices and electronic displays, was at the point of significantly extending its prowess.

He said: “Just down the road in Nissan is a great example of just what real world-class means in the North-East.

“There’s a long way to go before we are at that level.

“However, we are strengthening the team, we have got some great people at Hartlepool, and we are continuing to invest too.

“We have identified Hartlepool as a European manufacturing centre of excellence and have concentrated the majority of our activity there and moved equipment in (to help do that.)

“But we want Hartlepool to become a world-class centre of excellence and the staff and managing director, Chris Short, are doing a very good job.

“We are building the site and it is all quietly promising.”

Mr Peppiatt said Stadium’s potential would be fashioned into reality through continued growth of its technology products division, which focuses on control panels used by rail, medical and broadcast operators, and touch screen devices, such as bus timetables.

According to latest results revealed yesterday for the six months to June 30, the operation saw revenues rise 14 per cent to £13.9m and accounted for 57 per cent of total revenues.

Mr Peppiatt, who previously revealed Stadium had a £5m deal to make so-called black box systems that help monitor car insurance premiums, added: “For the last 30 years, Stadium’s history has been around electronics manufacturing services and we have built other people’s designs.

“The ability to make high-tech devices is still a very important part of the group.

“However, the difference with technology products is that we do the design and build and fulfil any other requirements too.

“We are confident we now have teams in place to drive the significant growth expected in 2017 and beyond.”

Stadium’s results also showed order intake was 22 per cent higher than a year ago at £30.7m, while group revenues were steady at £24.3m, reflecting the ongoing changes into design-led technology work and lower activity in traditional electronic assembly.

Reported pre-tax profit was up 5.8 per cent to £700,000, with net debt down from £5.9m to £3.5m.

Earlier this year, Stadium revealed it had extended a contract with telematics operator Trak Global Solutions to make black box systems.

Officials said the devices are fitted to vehicles to assess driving styles, encouraging motorists to be safer, which can benefit insurance premium levels.

Stadium also previously spent £6.5m to take on power supply unit and transformer maker Stontronics in a bid to strengthen its technology products division, and has bases in China and Hong Kong.