It has been a difficult year for Shoreham-based Hydrodynamic Products (HDP).

These are hard times for many UK manufacturing businesses. The continued strength of sterling against other currencies is a problem but HDP has other worries. The company manufactures and supplies press room consumables to the world's printing industry. In Britain the printing industry is in crisis. Imports, computer technology and falling demand is bad news for HDP.

I met managing director David Sheard and found him in a remarkably cheerful mood. It was Friday - the best end of the week - and no, he hadn't won the lottery. David was confident about the future.

HDP supplies some 2,300 UK printers and employs over 60 staff. It is an important local employer. More than 30 per cent of the company's business is in export sales. It has agents, distributors and licensed manufacturers in over 70 countries. Chief executive Gordon Livesey looks after the Far East and David handles America, India, Australia and South Africa. For a small company, HDP punches above its weight.

Last year, it just avoided making a loss and, as a consequence, the company had little option but to embark upon a cost-saving programme. Overheads and sales costs have been reduced. These savings must have hurt, as HDP is not an extravagant company. There are no fountains in the foyer at its Shoreham Harbour headquarters.

What about the future? The company is confident it can hold on to its customers and the lower cost base will help. There are plans to introduce new products in the New Year and HDP has managed a price increase that has been accepted by many of its overseas customers.

David was keen to talk about the company's innovative waste-management system.

He said: "When we make deliveries, we now offer to remove all waste products produced by the printers. We make a charge but one of the important things about this service is we are able to make a real contribution to environmental awareness."

I feel the company is in a better position than may be appreciated. The directors lead from the front. HDP has a team of in-house chemists, which will help it to remain a market leader and its representatives have all been trained in the print business.

David Sheard is a Yorkshireman. You can either love them or hate them but a bit of Yorkshire grit can make a difference.