Somerset-based photonics manufacturer Gooch & Housego (www.goochandhousego.com) reports that its half-year order book has reached record levels.

The company, which has 11 research and manufacturing sites in the UK and the USA, has orders totalling £84.7 million for the six months to 31 March, which is 27% more than a year ago year (or 36.4% excluding the impact of foreign exchange rate changes).

Chief executive Mark Webster said: “Overall market conditions remain good. We have a record half-year order book, and full-year trading is expected to be in line with our expectations.

“The introduction of a new manufacturing organisation has enabled us to more readily upgrade our capacity and performance, in particular at our Ilminster and Fremont sites, in order to meet the unprecedented levels of demand in the micro-electronic sector.”