TURNOVER at Portadown firm Kingspan Environmental jumped by 46 per cent £99.3m last year.
It was a massive increase for the firm, part of the larger Kingspan group, headquartered in Kingscourt, Co Cavan, and resulted in profits after tax of £1.4m.
The firm designs, makes and supplies moulded products, such as oil tanks, copper and stainless steel cylinders, solar tubes, wind turbines and waster water treatment systems.
The company added 230 positions over the year to December 31 2014 bringing to overall payroll to 790.
That brought Kingspan Environmental's wage bill to £26.9m.
Shareholders' funds meanwhile reached £50.9m from £36.3m
In the firm's strategic report, filed at Companies House in Belfast, directors said: "2014 proved to be another positive year for Kingspan Environmental, with sales and trading profit growing. The trading pattern reflected a slow start to the year, leading to a more stable performance through mid-year, culminated in a strong final quarter in most of our markets".
Looking ahead, directors said they expected continued growth.
"The positive momentum experienced in late 2014 has carried through into the early part of 2014, and should lead to a solid first quarter," they said.
"In all, the general consensus from within our own business, combined with more positive internal and external leading indicators, points toward gradually improving construction momentum into 2015.
"We remain focused on delivering our innovation and product development agenda, extending and consolidating our global footprint and improving returns on capital. Kingspan is well placed for the year ahead."
Meanwhile, the company's Kingspan Titan brand has urged businesses not to be caught out by new regualtions around oil tanks
It said 70 per cent of companies in Northern Ireland do not currently comply with new fuel storage regulations that come into force on December 31.
From that date business owners must ensure any fuel at their premises is stored in a bunded - or double skinned - tank with owners facing hefty fines of up to £20,000 or even imprisonment for non-compliance.
The regulations, which were prompted by the high level of oil related pollution incidents in Northern Ireland, will apply to ground oil storage facilities of 200 litres or more on industrial and commercial sites including shops, churches and hairdressers to manufacturing plants and offices.
Kingspan Environmental managing director Pat Freeman said: “The cost of oil spillages to both business and the environment can be heavy and the government has taken action to bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom. It is imperative business owners are made aware of this regulatory change and the consequences of noncompliance. Business owners are also often unware that they will be responsible for the cost of any clean up required due to an oil spill on their premises, costing many thousands.”
