ACHIEVING world-class accreditation for its technical services has helped boost sales by nearly a third at a West Yorkshire metallurgical specialist.

Keighley Laboratories, whose work helps ensure the safety of aircraft and other products, was awarded the leading Nadcap accreditation for a materials testing laboratory last year.

The company is also looking at gaining Nadcap accreditation for its heat treatment operation, which serves sectors including oil and gas, automotive and general engineering.

As a result of the accreditation, which boosted its worldwide industry profile, Keighley Laboratories technical services division has seen sales rise by more than 30 per cent. The company has taken on two apprentices to help meet growing demand, with plans for more in future.

The business, which is a leader in the analysis, testing and heat treatment of metals, has won new orders from China and the United Arab Emirates, which is set to become a global aerospace hub. Keighley Laboratories has also boosted its UK sales.

Gaining the Nadcap accreditation also enabled Keighley Laboratories to keep its approval to provide services to aircraft maker Airbus.

The company operates one of the few Nadcap-accredited metal testing laboratories in the UK for the evaluation of processes for the aerospace sector. The accreditation confirmed its international status as a centre of excellence for weld testing and inspection services.

Its expertise in safety-critical areas enabled Keighley Labs to win contracts from the Emirates for verifying welding quality and test procedures for the region’s aviation manufacturing industry, which produces airplane parts for manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.

It is also testing fabrications for the Chinese aerospace sector, which is seen as offering major long-term opportunities for UK companies.

Keighley Labs has also won metal tensile testing contracts within the UK nuclear industry, together with an influx of work from other sectors.

It expects to win more export sales for its for weld testing and other laboratory procedures and is also introducing further quality improvements to its own processes.

Managing director Debbie Mellor said: “Gaining the Nadcap accreditation was the best thing we have done. It’s a tough process but was an important breakthrough for the company, since it raises our profile and reputation within the aerospace industry and enables us to obtain greater recognition for our expertise in weld and materials testing.

“We’ll be looking at gaining Nadcap accreditation for the heat treatment operation.”

Keighley Laboratories has invested more than £1million in new premises with state-of-the-art technology, along with £100,000 on upgrading its laboratory technology.