Macclesfield-based Bodycote (www.bodycote.com), a provider of heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services, says (in a trading statement released ahead of its annual general meeting) that its revenues were £243 million in the first four months of the year — 7% higher than a year ago.

Its car and light-truck revenues grew by 8%, with continued strong growth in emerging markets and good growth in Western Europe, while its North American revenues were down slightly.

Its civil-aerospace revenues grew by 4%, held back by restrained demand in France resulting from shortfalls in the aerospace-industry supply chain.

Its energy revenues grew by 24%, and there were early indications of an upturn in Western Europe.