The company has been awarded coveted preferred supplier status from Lockheed Martin UK INSYS, a leader in systems integration for major programmes in the aerospace, defence and civil sectors, which is part of the giant Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Atlas Composites began in 1997 specialising in the manufacture of carbon fibre composite components for the motor racing industry, earning accreditations and new customers by evolving into the aerospace, defence, communications and engineering industries.

Having previously achieved approved supplier status for Lockheed Martin UK INSYS and two other leading defence companies, Atlas Composites has now stepped up a rung on the ladder of recognition by being presented with the bronze award as a preferred supplier.

Based at modern premises in Merlin Way, Quarry Hill Industrial Estate, Ilkeston, Atlas Composites is the only carbon fibre composite manufacturer to have won this status from Lockheed Martin UK INSYS and is therefore the first port of call when it needs specialist composite products.

Atlas Composites has been supplying parts for defence equipment to Lockheed Martin UK INSYS for almost two years.

As part of a selected group of key suppliers, which involved going through a rigorous appraisal, Atlas Composites is recognised as consistently providing materials and services on time to specific quality requirements.

The award gives added kudos to the company's reputation and can open doors for Atlas Composites when seeking business worldwide to add to its order books.

Managing director Shaun Moloney said: "I'm delighted at this latest recognition from such a prestigious company as Lockheed Martin for our performance in developing carbon fibre composites for use in the defence industry.

"It's a reflection on all the expertise and hard work put in by our employees".

"As a company, our staff, under engineering manager David Gregory, come up with and develop innovative solutions for Lockheed Martins various processes at the cutting edge of technology."

Mr Moloney said the company hoped to go even better by advancing higher in the preferred supplier programme.

He said Atlas Composites had been given the chance to develop further with the support of Lockheed Martin's lean manufacturing system which scans processes to make sure that everything is ultra efficient.

As part of this award, Lockheed Martin will be supporting the development of key individuals from the Ilkeston Company, putting them through their own development programme and training courses to help the implementation of lean manufacturing processes.

Next month Mr Moloney will be attending the JEC exhibition and various conferences in Paris for composite manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. Later in the year he and his team will be attending the prestigious Farnborough Air Show, a showcase for the aerospace industry, where meetings have already been arranged with existing and potential clients.

Last year the company's turnover was a record £2.2m and this year it is aiming to increase this to £2.5m.

The company's workforce has increased to 49 and Mr Moloney hopes to boost this to 60 by the end of the year by recruiting time-served craft workers in various trades.