Stokesley-based Applied Scientific Technologies (AST) (www.appliedst.co.uk) is forecasting a 10-fold increase in turnover, as it prepares to launch an artificial-intelligence system in Europe in September (and then the rest of the world in 2019).

Along with its established sister company Applied Integration, AST is working with strategic partner companies including Siemens UK to develop the product. It is currently preparing field trials that will see its custom-built robotic automated system — called the Hyve — go into full production within months.

AST’s first sale was to the European headquarters of a multi-national cosmetics company, which plans to roll out the Hyve product across its global operations.

There has also been interest from companies in the health-care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, life sciences and personal and household care markets.

AST plans to open a production facility for the Hyve in the Tees region in the next six months; it is currently looking to recruit a multi-disciplined chief engineer and several apprentices.