A Westhoughton technology company is building an international reputation in a specialised field.

Comtech Holdings Ltd in Manchester Road has developed a range of machine to machine communications products which are used in a number of industries at home and abroad.

They allow companies, for instance, to check stock and sales levels without any human involvement at all.

Joint managing directors Barry Lowe and Steve Davies launched the 10-year-old company in Bryn, Wigan as Complementary Technologies.

It employed 17 people when it moved to Westhoughton in 1997 after being named Company of the Year in the Wigan and Leigh Business Awards hosted by Wigan Borough Partnership.

The company, which now has 44 workers, changed its name to Comtech nine months ago.

Mr Lowe says nearly £3 million has been spent on research and development in the last four and a half years.

"It is hard work," he said.

"Nothing is easy in technology, but we are pretty much leading the world in what we do.

"We are spending on R&D to make sure we stay ahead."

Mr Lowe and Mr Davies, who are both from Wigan, are now embarking on further expansion with an additional 4,000 sq ft unit at Lostock which they hope to occupy next month.

"We will be taking more people on, but we do not know how many," Mr Lowe said.

He said this year's turnover of £4 million was likely to be £6 million next year.

"We are looking forward to the year ahead with renewed vigour," he added.

"During the past two years Comtech received more than £2 million of equity investment into the company so it is particularly pleasing to be able to report back to our investors on our progress."

Machine to machine communications is a rapidly emerging market.

Comtech has developed a complete system which enables customers to gather vital information which can result in improved decision-making, control and additional revenue.

Uses include monitoring oil wells in Egypt.