A PROTOTYPE company has seen sales increase by 350 per cent in the past year.

Phil Adamson and Peter Humphrey set up Paragon Rapid Technologies two years ago on the Durham Tees Valley Airport industrial estate.

As well as massive sales growth, the workforce has grown from the initial two to a team of 17 people.

Paragon specialises in producing prototypes using modern processes and materials, specifically for manufacturing companies and design consultants.

It has produced prototypes including power tools, mobile phones, and even full car interiors for manufacturers including Hoover, JCB, Land Rover and B&Q.

Services include a laser-driven method of building three-dimensional models direct from computer-aided design information.

The company also specialises in vacuum casting, which is another fast method of producing small quantities of plastic prototypes, without having to resort to expensive plastic injection moulding.

Mr Adamson said: "We believe our success is due to our commitment to the highest possible levels of customer service and through targeting those customers to whom attention to detail is as important as value for money."

Paragon was recently named runner up in the North-East Chamber of Commerce's Best New Business Awards.