Huntingdon engineering firm Encocam has marked its 30th anniversary with a celebration for customers, suppliers and partners.

The theme of the event was innovation and international trade at the firm where more than 80 per cent of its products are exported.

Speakers included Baroness Brown of Cambridge, who gave the opening speech about engineering, the importance of the manufacturing sector and the role of international trade in growing the economy, and Felicity Burch, head of innovation and digital at the CBI, who spoke about innovation in business.

Founder and company chairman Dr Mike Ashmead described how Encocam was set up in 1988 to make aluminium honeycomb to sell all over the world.

It has since grown to eight divisions working in seven industries involving energy absorbers, safety test products for the car industry, architectural panels, motorcycles and racing products.

Dr Ashmead said: “This event was a celebration of innovation. As a group we are always looking for new opportunities and our brands have developed as new products and opportunities have arisen and ideas progressed into product lines. This ethos has helped steer the company in the many directions it has taken and will enable us to grow and develop further.

“When I started the company in 1988, I did not anticipate how it would develop over the years. Through the hard work and dedication of many people we have grown and continue to do so.”

He added: “This event enabled us to celebrate our success as a business with our customers, suppliers and business partners. We wanted to provide a great chance to network and share ideas, as well as thank everyone who has contributed to Encocam’s success over the past 30 years.”

Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly and John Bridge, chief executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, also spoke.

Last year one of Encocam’s divisions won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade.

Visitors could see the various divisions in action, including the manufacture of aluminium honeycomb materials, its use in crash test barriers and the firm’s development of crash test dummies - as well as the newly-installed impact sled.

Encocam is also seeking to develop a motorcycle which will be designed and built in the UK.