A Keighley engineering firm, which underwent a management buy-out earlier this year, is celebrating after scooping a £500,000 contract in South America.

Wells SMT (Spring Manufacturing Technology), which is based in Beech Street and employs 14 staff, was formed three-and-a-half years ago by three ex-employees of former Keighley firm Fairbank Brearley after its parent company went into receivership.

Originally part of the Keighley-based Wells Group, Wells SMT has been a stand-alone company since January this year, owned by chairman Philip Wells, managing director Alan Wall and sales director Michael Rutter.

It moved to its present base at Dalton Works in March.

The latest contract - to supply spring-making equipment to a company in Colombia - is its biggest yet.

Wells SMT has already done business in Dubai and next month sends a container of new and refurbished machinery to Pakistan.

The firm is now looking at a contract in the USA, and has visits arranged by potential customers from Dubai and Tunisia.

"Business is booming at the moment," said Mr Wall. "For the last few years the spring industry world-wide has been in recession, with companies moving to lower cost production areas. A lot of equipment has been moved about but very little new has been purchased.

"Now that seems to be changing and we are getting more and more inquiries."

Wells SMT makes equipment used in the manufacture of springs - mainly leaf springs for buses, trucks and vans.

Mr Wall said: "We are proud that of our 14 people, two were apprentices. We have a highly-skilled workforce, which we are hoping to expand soon."

One of the apprentices, 21-year-old Imran Alam, a former student at Greenhead High School, has just completed his welding and fabrication NVQ Level 3 at Keighley College.

His training was helped by Keighley & District Training Association Ltd (KADTAL), of which Wells SMT is a member. Imran has also won the prestigious Lincoln Electric CoVE award for welding, which will be presented at the college later this month.