Cambridgeshire-based Hybrid Laser Tech, a specialist laser cutting company, has marked its 20^th Anniversary with a strong increase in sales and the highest profit increase in the company’s history.

Originally formed in March 1988, Hybrid Laser Tech is now firmly established as a world-wide leading supplier of precision cut ceramic substrates to a range of international clients in the micro-electronics, aerospace, scientific and medical and telecommunications sectors.

In celebrating its 20^th Anniversary this month, the company, a wholly owned subsidiary of award winning manufacturing organisation, Shearline, has announced a sales increase of 35% for the financial period ending March 2008, additionally, the company has also reported a record-setting profit increase.

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Apprentices at multi-award winning manufacturing organisation, Shearline, demonstrated their engineering skills on the big screen recently when Anglia TV selected the company for some filming.

A special feature on modern apprenticeships was commissioned by Anglia TV and Shearline, which has been tackling the issue of skills shortages within the industry, was chosen as the perfect company to portray the benefits of these training schemes.

The company, based on the Cambridgeshire Business Park in Ely, has been running an extensive internal training programme for 13 years, which has been designed to help bridge the gap of skills shortages within the UK’s engineering and manufacturing industries. An impressive twenty two per cent of the engineers employed at Shearline have come through its apprenticeship scheme; some from the original intake 13 years ago.

During 2007, however, it was Shearline’s young apprentices that set the precedent for the company’s apprentice scheme - and drew the attraction of Anglia TV. Picking up a raft of prestigious industry awards, these young apprentices appealed to Anglia TV by clearly demonstrating the benefits that these schemes can bring.

Third year apprentices, Daniel Walker and Liam Peters (both featured on the Anglia TV film) picked up three awards at the 2007 Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) Apprentice of the Year competition.

Michelle Spraggon, who has just completed her modern apprentice scheme - and also featured on the film - was the company’s latest apprentice to pick up an award for her achievements at the West Anglian Training Association (WATA) Apprentice of the Year Awards.

Screen Technology loan and trading Agreement

Screen Technology Group plc (“Screen Technology” or the “Company”) announces that it has entered into a Loan and Trading Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Shearline Precision Engineering Limited (“Shearline”).

The agreement underpins a key strategic relationship with Shearline and provides the Company with £500,000 of working capital funding. Shearline is an established strategic partner based in Ely which manufactures iTrans tiles and modules on behalf of Screen Technology. Under the terms of the Agreement Shearline will provide Screen Technology with a loan of up to £500,000, repayable in equal instalments over 60 months, to fund the Company’s existing debt of £333,694 from Shearline and to fund further manufacturing and development costs.The loan bears interest at a variable commercial rate, can be repaid without penalty at any time and is secured by way of debenture on the Company’s intellectual property. This security will be released on repayment of the loan. Shearline have also been granted warrants over 1,000,000 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 2.8 per cent of the current issued share capital, exercisable at a subscription price of 5p per share at any time until November 2012. Peter Smyth, non-executive Chairman said:

“We are delighted with this further strengthening of our relationship with Shearline which also provides us with significant additional financial resources.”

Young apprentice picks up - yet another awardMichelle Spraggon, an employee at leading manufacturing organisation, Shearline, has become the company’s latest apprentice to pick up an award for her achievements at the annual West Anglian Training Association (WATA) Apprentice of the Year Awards.

Michelle, a fourth year apprentice at Shearline, was presented with a Certificate of Achievement for the ‘Best Level 3 Mechanical Engineering’ Category at the annual awards ceremony held in Huntingdon on 5th October. As part of the process, the 21 year old who has been with Shearline since 2003 achieved Distinctions and Credits for all City & Guilds exams and demonstrated her knowledge and understanding of the industry through detailed log books and work for NVQ 3 Assessments.

Hilary Bacon, Shearline’s HR Manager, comments, “We are extremely proud of Michelle, she has put a lot of time, effort and enthusiasm into this scheme and we’re delighted with her achievement.

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His Royal Highness, The Duke of York, made a special visit to Cambridgeshire last week to open a new £1 million facility at award-winning manufacturing company, Shearline, in Ely.

As the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, His Royal Highness was invited to Shearline to open an extension to its existing 57,000 sq ft showcase facility. The newly constructed two-storey building will become home to Hybrid Laser Tech Ltd, a precision laser cutting company acquired by Shearline in 2005.

As part of the visit, His Royal Highness was taken on a tour of Shearline’s showcase facility, viewing the latest manufacturing processes and being introduced to members of staff. In his capacity as Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, His Royal Highness was well placed to understand the achievements Shearline has made within the engineering and manufacturing industry and gave praise to the company as the new building was officially declared open.

The new 10,000 sq ft building features a number of state-of-the-art environmental features such as rain water collection and usage, and energy generated from wind power. Linked to the current Shearline factory, it will enable Hybrid Laser Tech to become an integral part of the company’s complete manufacturing offer to its customers.

David Lonsdale, Shearline’s Sales and Marketing Manager, commented “It was an honour to welcome His Royal Highness, The Duke of York to Shearline and we were delighted to show him around our facility and receive his praise as he officially opened the new building for Hybrid Laser Tech.

“The additional capabilities that Hybrid offers, coupled with our complete manufacturing service, reinforces Shearline’s strong position in the industry and ensures that we are in a robust position in an increasingly competitive market.”

Shearline, which was established over 30 years ago and employs over 150 staff, is considered one of the few UK manufacturing companies that offers a complete service including design for manufacture, prototyping and first batch production through to full scale manufacture and world-wide delivery.

Shearline, Cambridgeshire’s award winning manufacturing company, has just completed the production and manufacture of the world’s biggest ‘ITrans’ Modular digital display system for AIM listed Screen Technology, a specialist developer of large format display screens.

 Shearline, recognised throughout the industry for its integrated engineering and manufacturing service, has been working with Screen Technology as its UK manufacturing partner in the development of ITrans, the company’s revolutionary high-resolution, large format digital screen technology.

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Cambridge based laser cutting specialist Hybrid Laser Tech Ltd is celebrating huge increases in orders from its UK and international customers.The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shearline Precision Engineering Ltd, has seen a particularly large increase in its export market, with sales abroad accounting for 30% of turnover in the last quarter compared with 10% for the same period a year ago.

Hybrid Laser Tech Ltd uses laser to precision cut ceramics, metal, plastics and acrylics and has recently perfected a number of unique processes in cutting heat resistant ceramics to extremely tight tolerances. It is this technology, backed up by both a concerted wave of exhibitions, events and marketing initiatives from the firm’s high quality direct sales team and exceptional customer service, that has been the backbone of its continued success.

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The regions manufacturing industry has been given a further boost as Cambridgeshire-based manufacturing company, Shearline, announced a 17.5% increase in sales for the year ending March 2007.

The company, one of the UK’s few manufacturing organisations offering a complete service including design for manufacture, prototyping and first batch production through to full scale manufacture also reported a strong improvement in profitability.

For the financial period ending March 2007, Shearline saw an increase of £1.23 million, giving a total consolidated sales figure for the year in excess of £8 million for the first time.

The company’s news echoes that of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s (CIPS) latest poll, which showed an index of manufacturing activity at 54.4 in March 2007, and reported that strong foreign demand has helped the UK manufacturing base record its twentieth consecutive month of expansion.

Kevin Gouldthorp, Shearline’s Finance Director, comments,

“We’re absolutely delighted to report this significant increase in sales. It’s no secret that in recent years the climate for UK manufacturing has been particularly difficult, however, our results, coupled with the latest industry reports, prove that it isn’t all doom and gloom in the manufacturing sector, particularly in the eastern region. We’ve put a lot of time, effort and investment into developing our core business strategy both in the UK and within a global manufacturing capacity and whilst we recognise that we will continue to face strong competition and tough market conditions we’re confident that the company will continue to make significant progress throughout 2007.”

Construction is due to be completed this summer on a new (£1 million) extension to its showcase facility in Ely, Cambridgeshire, which will accommodate Hybrid Laser Tech, the precision laser cutting company it acquired last year.

Two apprentices at leading manufacturing company, Shearline, picked up three highly prestigious awards at this year’s final of the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) East Midlands and Mid-Anglia’s Apprentice of the Year competition.

The event finale, which took place on Friday 15^th June at EEF’s headquarters in Oakham, Leicestershire, saw Liam Peters, a third year apprentice at Shearline, pick up the RUNNERS UP award for Apprentice of the Year in the SME category. His colleague Daniel Walker, also a third year apprentice, then closed the door on all other competition by going one better and picking up the WINNERS award in the same category.

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Two apprentices from Ely-based manufacturing company, Shearline, have made it through to the final of the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) East Midlands and Mid-Anglia’s Apprentice of the Year competition.

Eighteen year olds, Daniel Walker and Liam Peters, both third year apprentices at Shearline have been recognised for their knowledge and understanding of the engineering industry as well as their natural ability and flair for creativity and new approaches to modern manufacturing. Following successful completion of a number of assignments and interviews, Daniel and Liam have been invited to the final at EEF’s Barleythorpe headquarters in Oakham, Leicestershire on June 15^th, 2007, where a formal presentation will take place.

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