Yorkshire-based William Cook has secured two new export orders — valued at £5 million — for its tank track systems. Under a contract worth £3 million, the company will deliver its custom-designed tracks to a customer in the Middle East.

The second deal, worth £2 million, will see deliveries made to a customer in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Chris Seymour, managing director, said: “We are proud to be flying the flag for British manufacturing, as the trusted supplier of track systems to defence ministries and their contractors in Anglophile countries around the world.

“We continue to invest in our business for future growth by adding new technology and talent at our manufacturing plants in Sheffield, Leeds and Stanhope.”

William Cook is set to unveil major new investment at its Stanhope plant (in County Durham) later this year. The group’s defence division is on target for a record year, with sales of more than £25 million.

The sixth-generation family-owned business is one of only two specialist designers and manufacturers of track systems for armoured vehicles in Europe.

It is also an expert in cast armour and other high-grade metal parts for tanks, aircraft and submarines.