A Sussex electronics firm is celebrating 20 years in business with the opening of a new factory.

Tenkay Electronics was formed from two small businesses, one operating from the Hove home of Steve Dixon and the other, Prototype Electronic Services (PES), started by Dennis Baker and Denis Fiore in Henfield.

The 10,000sqft new factory in Marlborough Road, Lancing, started production last week when Southern FM Breakfast Show presenter Nicky Keig Shevlin officially opened it.

Founded in 1982 as an electronics component distributor, within a couple of years Tenkay Electronics had moved into a 2,000sqft factory in Brighton, which it shared with PES.

PES also started trading in 1982 and specialised in prototype electronic assembly.

Mr Baker and Mr Fiore were experienced in the field of electronic assembly and were soon in demand for specialist services.

The two companies worked closely together, which led to the share premises.

In 1991, they were joined by Grahame Carter, of Portway Connectors, and moved into their current headquarters in Hove.

In 1996, the companies combined forces to trade as Tenkay Electronics.

In 2000, the company acquired Ashwyn Electronics, of Burgess Hill, and the assets of Lancing-based Aylsar Electronics.

Mr Baker said: "From just a couple of people in 1982, we have grown into a business with more than 60 people at our two sites.

"Our production is mainly for UK clients but our products are also sold all over the world.

"The market has been slow recently. We have been hit by the downturn in the telecoms and flight simulation markets. Many of our assemblies are used in the vacuum pumps that create the dust-free environment for the production of silicon chips.

"Fortunately, the manufacturers are now developing new phones to recoup the billions of pounds they spent on third generation licences, so demand for silicon chips is back on the increase."

Tenkay has been recruiting strongly and is looking for wirers and circuit board assemblers.