SUPPLYING global food and pharmaceutical industries with metal detectable plastics has seen Detectamet grow its export sales to 65 per cent of its turnover.

Founded in 2003, the Pocklington-based business employs a team of 43 people, and hoping to do the double in the Press Business Awards after entering the Dare to Export Award and Small Business of the Year.

Directors Angela Musson and Sean Smith founded the business after seeing a need for tools, materials and other products made from specialist plastic products that could be identified and rejected by standard metal detectors and X-ray equipment.

When they set up the company’s web site and started to exhibit at food shows they saw interest from overseas food producers, and quickly realised there was a potential for developing exports.

During the past 11 years Detectamet has developed its export business, which now represents around 65 per cent of its turnover, with the figure set to grow to 70 per cent over the next three years.

This year Detectamet established a company to handle the sales and distribution of its products in the USA.

Derrick Blunden, marketing assistant at Detectamet said: "The USA is now beginning to exceed the UK in numbers of certificated companies with the potential for the market to grow three fold in the next 10 years.

"In addition Asian, South American and East European markets are expected to grow substantially. Detectamet is already positioned to expand via distributors into these markets, and already exports to more than 100 countries."

Detectamet now provides several major international food, confectionary and beverage brand producers with detectable plastic products wherever they are needed around the world.

The company’s continuous new product development program has meant that more than 180 products are in the 2014 catalogue, more than two dozen of which have been added in the past 18 months.

Detectamet has taken advantage of UK Government aid and advice in international exhibiting, and in targeting and appointing distributors and agents. In 2013/14 the company has exhibited in Germany, Thailand, the Netherlands, and France, and twice in the USA.

By 2020 Detectamet anticipates a turnover of above £10million of which £7 million will be from exports.

In addition US turnover is anticipated to have reached $6 million.