Surging export sales to Europe and strong demand from the NHS has enabled a West Yorkshire company to achieve a double digit boost in sales.

Ferno (UK), which employs 80 people at its Cleckheaton plant, saw sales increase by 13.3 per cent in the last financial year in the face of tough trading conditions.

The company specialises in designing, manufacturing and supplying a range of emergency patient handling and evacuation equipment such as ambulance trolleys, evacuation chairs and stretchers.

It saw sales grow from £9.77m in 2008-09 to £11.07m in 2009-10.

Managing director Jon Ellis said he was delighted with the strong performance despite widespread budget uncertainty across both the UK ambulance and health sectors.

“We have seen strong demand return in Europe for our products with exports increasing by just over 100 per cent to £1.16m.

“Our leading position in the market and 40-year history has also helped.”

Ferno, part of a US-based global group, also saw soaring demand for bariatric products for clinically obese patients – with ring fenced NHS budgets and trusts gearing up for extreme bariatric needs in the next decade.

Ferno currently designs its own range of bariatric trolleys which can carry patients weighing up to 400kg (63 stone) as well as chairs and other niche patient handling equipment. It supplies trolleys across the UK as well as Germany, Holland and into Scandanavia.

Mr Ellis said: “Bariatric sales also doubled last year as the NHS Trusts invested in new equipment to meet the extreme needs they now face in transporting and treating obese patients.

“It’s not just our type of specialist equipment that is being re-designed with new heightened weight limits, but everything from hospital lifts, beds and even building facilities, are having to be reviewed to meet ever increasing demands.”

Ferno (UK) has promoted Margaret Merkle, who joined the company in 2003, to finance director. She has worked her way up from financial controller to the board following promotions to internal auditor, finance manager and associate director.

She now has full responsibility for the company’s accounts, budgets and banking, reporting and financial matters to the international Ferno Group.

Mr Ellis said: “We always look to develop talented staff within the business and Margaret’s rise to full director in just seven years is testament to both her financial and management skills.”