IT has been a bumpy, uphill road for Sheppee International Ltd, one of York's oldest engineering firms, but lately it has been full steam ahead - and cause for hope that it might win the Exporter of the Year category in the Evening Press Business Awards 2000.

A lot has changed since 1904 when Colonel Francis Sheppee bought his commission out of the Indian Army and began to build steam traction engines.

Its products changed into motorbikes, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and cycle aids to what it now does best at its base in the Airfield Business Park at Elvington - make engineered products for the hot glass container industry all over the world, with 80 per cent of its sales going abroad. Typical is its latest order from a leading German supplier of brewing and bottling equipment. In December, 1992, the company, then based in James Street, York, went into receivership but was saved by a buyout, starting again with a staff of six and an order book of £100,000.

Now, with 38 on the payroll, it has regained its position as a top supplier of ware handling equipment, turning over sales of more than £2.5 million.