Chaintec, the UK's leading supplier of chain products to the forklift replacement market, has reported a 12% hike in sales for 2008.

Chaintec managing director David Hassan says the strong growth is contrary to the current economic climate.

"Twelve per cent growth in sales in any climate is a strong performance but, given the downturn in global trading conditions, we are particularly proud of our results," he says. The company experienced growth in its UK sales and export divisions.

Hassan attributes the growth to a roll-out of the company's three-year strategy to extend its product range and service offerings in the UK and to expanding its worldwide export network.

Another factor in Chaintec's growth is the development of its on-site fitting services. The service, first offered more than five years, ago minimises administration overheads and reduces maintenance costs.

Hassan says Chaintec identifies and supplies the right chain to its engineer, who then fits it to the forklift onsite. The service has now extended to include a wider range of forklifts, including high-level order pickers, which are serviced using Chaintec's in-house scissor lift.

The opening of a Chaintec office in Southampton in 2008 extended the on-site fitting services to a wider market in the south of England.

In 2008, Chaintec showcased its products at trade shows in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This year, it will exhibit at the Materials Handling Middle East exhibition on May 31 to June 2, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre

Chaintec was established in 1991 in the West Midlands but, after expansion in the late 1990s, its headquarters moved to Trafford Park, Manchester. It supplies chain products to the forklift replacement market. Its Trafford Park depot is about 10km from Manchester International Airport. Chaintec exported about 25% of its products in 2006.