A WORLD leader in the design of vital monitoring equipment used in the oil, gas and petro-chemical industries has just celebrated its 15th anniversary.

MHT Technology Ltd is based in rural offices in the North Yorkshire countryside.

Although its booming business means it is having to look for larger premises, founder Malcolm Tennant is determined to stay in the locality.

He founded the company after resigning as a design engineer with Darlington-based Whessoe.

MHT first repaired and serviced Whessoe guages, but Mr Tennant's real ambition was to design and develop new products and systems.

Today, the electronics engineer's company is recognised as one of the sectors world leaders of bulk liquid monitoring and automation systems.

After gaining its reputation in the UK market, more than 70pc of its business is now export.

"It is an achievement I am very proud of as a small rural business in North Yorkshire," said Mr Tennant, who is based at Harelands Courtyard Offices, Melsonby, near Richmond.

One of MHT's major areas of expertise is designing and supplying equipment which monitors the safe storage and movement of stocks in refineries.

Apart from the UK and the whole of Europe, MHT products are in demand throughout Asia, the Middle East and North America.

MHT is also one of only two companies in the world offering methods of LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) tank management.

The government has just awarded it a third research grant to work closely with Sheffield University.

Mr Tennant's 16 strong team has a wide range of skills in electronic, chemical, mechanical and software engineering, international sales and marketing, and linguistic.

Most staff are local which is why MHT will not move far from its present location.

Mr Tennant himself was born in Bishop Auckland, attended Ravensworth Primary School, Richmond Secondary School, Darlington College of Technology and Sunderland University.

He is proud of what MHT and its staff have achieved and the fact that many competitors now buy MHT products to re-brand as their own.

He now plans to break into the emerging Russian, Chinese and South American markets as well as renewable energy.

He said: "We look forward to the economic challenges of the coming months and years and see lots of opportunities in providing solutions that allow our customers to operate more efficiently, increase safety and protect the environment."

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