In the last two years Imago Metal Ltd, Victoria Road, Halifax, has invested £500,000 in the latest CNC metal working machinery.

Joint director Ryan Shaw said: "We are bucking the recession by investment in machinery and workforce."

The sub-contractor manufactures and supplies to various industries, from aerospace to local fabricators, within the UK and in Europe.

Among its latest new equipment is state-of-the-art laser cutting machinery and the press break machine, which is CNC bending equipment described as the Rolls Royce of its kind.

And a new touch-screen manufacturing system is coming soon, logging ordering to invoice.

The firm was set up six years ago by Steve Shaw and his two sons Ryan, 30, and Harvey, 33, who all had metal working backgrounds.

Ryan Shaw said: "We like to offer quality manufacture products with good lead times using the latest CNC equipment.

"We have got niche machinery which enables us to make products which a lot of companies can't do."

Imago is also investing in its workforce of 18 with continuous training so the firm can stay competitive.

Mr Shaw said although China was churning out the higher volume products, efficient manufacturing lead times and being in the same country as customers was drawing firms to companies like Imago.

"There are the horror stories of companies ordering products from abroad and it not being right," he added.

Mr Shaw said grants secured via the Manufacturing Advisory Service had helped the firm invest in training.

"Between the three of us we have a lifetime's experience in metal working," said Mr Shaw.

"We are looking to maximise turnover and then expand naturally over time which I think has gone extremely well so far."