Bishop's Waltham company Gravatom Engineering Systems has produced impressive financial results, demonstrating that engineering and manufacturing in the south is not all doom and gloom.

The dynamic engineering company achieved sales of £6.5m in the year to the end of May, and profits rose to £350,000 on the back of continued growth in each of the company's core business activities - nuclear systems, nuclear packaging and the original equipment market.

Managing director Dave Barker predicts continued growth and expects profits to more than double in the next 12 months.

He said: "By continuing to develop our core business activities, which clearly differentiates us from our competitors, we forecast net sales exceeding £8m with profits of £750,000 this financial year.''

From its main site at Bishop's Waltham, the firm's engineers cater for a wide range of industrial requirements.