AN INDUSTRIAL technology business is flying the flag for British manufacturing by exporting electronics to China.

West Control Solutions is a little-known producer of temperature controls based in Bevendean.

But tucked away in Hyde Business Park is a £25 million business which is a subsidiary of Danaher, a $20 billion global corporation based in the US.

It is this hefty clout and ability to share best practice with its parent company’s 70,000 staff that has helped the business thrive while other manufacturers have declined.

Despite most of West Control’s competitors being based in China, where production is much cheaper, the Brighton business is successfully exporting its latest product Maxvu to Asia.

Operations director Steve Allen credits the success to the company’s “lean manufacturing environment”.

This means just £7,000 worth of stock is ever on site at any one time, with 65 plant operatives only producing what has been ordered.

Steve said: “I’m extremely proud that all our items are made here in the UK. People think we don’t have a great manufacturing industry in Britain anymore, but our results prove otherwise.

“There’s definitely a prestige in UK products in Asia.”

The company’s products are used in food fryers, chocolate tempering and beer brewing – as well as electronics soldering and plastics.

West Controls has offices in Germany, America, Brazil and China, was founded some 90 years ago, incorporated into Danaher in 1993 and was rebranded in 2009.

The latest controller Maxvu was two years in development after a gap in the market was identified for a cheaper, pared-down and user-friendly device.

And while other businesses have outsourced production out of the UK, West Control has done the opposite and in-sourced.

After production lines in Germany were closed two years ago, rather than subcontract, West Control expanded its plant and workforce in Brighton.

Steve added: “Lean manufacturing is what makes us competitive, it’s a unique selling point which adds value to our customer base.

“We are able to deliver products very quickly, which enables us to thrive but without which we wouldn’t be as strong.”