A Bingley firm at the leading edge of the design of television equipment could double its workforce within three years now it has been taken over by a global US group.

Eldon Technology, which is already the largest electronics design house of its kind in Europe, has been acquired by EchoStar UK Holdings - a subsidiary of EchoStar Communications Corporation which is a US public company.

The acquisition will provide the growing firm with the cash backing to expand the business and take advantage of the expertise EchoStar has to offer.

The firm was started in Bingley in 1988 by 12 senior managers and design engineers who were being made redundant from the former Ferguson New Product Research Centre in Bradford which closed.

The company, which has increased its staff to 70, could double that figure to more than 140 in the next three years thanks to investment from the acquisition.

Turnover in its first year was £359,000 which rose to £3 million. In time that figure could grow even further as the firm expects to take on up to 25 staff over the next few years.

Stephen Davy, Eldon's resources and marketing director, said: "Over the years, Eldon has gradually expanded its premises from around 350 square metres in Bingley to around 1,650 sq metres on two sites in Bingley and Keighley.

"The acquisition will ensure a stable financial platform from which further expansion can take place," he added.

Former technical director Stuart Holmes has taken over as managing director. He said: "Eldon Technology hopes to continue its current business by providing design services to third parties and other customers while providing a valuable addition to the EchoStar engineering team designing EchoStar branded products."

Mike Dugan, president of EchoStar Technologies Corporation, said: "The acquisition of Eldon Technology will strengthen EchoStar's product design capabilities for satellite receivers and integrated televisions in both the international and US markets."

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