ONE of West Somerset's oldest businesses has shown its continued commitment to the area with a major investment in new manufacturing equipment.

While many other UK manufacturers have outsourced their work overseas, Roadwater-based Singer Instruments is investing hundreds of thousands of pounds into its site.

The company designs and builds world-leading scientific instruments, which are used by researchers all over the globe, primarily for vital work in cancer research.

Harry Singer, the grandson of the original founder and now managing director, said the new machinery would enable the firm to produce the latest robotic devices even faster to keep up with export demand.

"I am particularly proud that Singer Instruments is continuing to invest in the local economy, it's really important that we can carry on providing high quality employment and great opportunities for talented designers and engineers in West Somerset," he said.

As well as supplying UK clients, the company exports its technical equipment to more than 50 countries worldwide, including the US, China and Japan.

Dr Singer added: "Many of our clients comment on the design and build quality of our systems as being vastly superior to competitors.

"I put a lot of that down to our insistence on the use of the latest equipment coupled with traditional design and engineering standards that can make Britain one of the best manufacturing countries."

Singer Instruments was founded in 1934 and has bucked the current economic downturn, by seeing one of the biggest growth periods in its history.

Since investing in a new machine shop a few years ago, the workforce has doubled and the firm now provides work for engineers, trainee designers and craftsmen.

Pictured with the new equipment are, from the left, Andrew Wooldridge, Mark Shorney, Harry Singer and Kenny Dyer.

Photo: Steve Guscott