A SCOTTISH manufacturer of micro compressors has witnessed a year of record growth with a 197 per cent increase in sales for 2017.

Edinburgh-based Vert Rotors revealed a record year-on-year turnover growth of 115 per cent to £526,400 , spurred by its new compressor, which is three times more powerful and produces 200 per cent higher pressure than its nearest competitor for the same electrical power input.

To keep up with demand, the company has also expanded its prevision manufacturing facility in Edinburgh to increase production and hired five new design and manufacturing engineers, bringing highly skilled and high-value jobs

to the capital. Vert Rotors’ research and development has also been recognised with four patents granted last year to protect the firm’s intellectual property and innovation.

Two were granted in the US and two in Europe for their software algorithm and the design of their conical compressor.

The company said protecting their IP is important, as it means all the revenue generated by their designs is retained in Scotland and helps boost the economy.

Vert’s “disruptive” micro compressor technology has also attracted the attention of several international companies.

The company’s customer base has grown to include key industry targets such as a leading air compressor manufacturer, an automotive maker, oil and gas drilling manufacturer and a space propulsion technology specialist.

Company founder and CEO, Olly Dmitriev said: “It really has been an outstanding year for Vert Rotors.

“It is great to see that our growth has increased year on year by 197 per cent and we want to push forward to keep on track for 2018.

“The whole team has worked incredibly hard to get us to the position we are in today.

“After we introduced our portable plug-and-play high-pressure compressor, turnover picked up very quickly and reached over half a million in 2017. The new design innovation makes high pressure air easy for the first time and we are experiencing increasing demand for our unique design.

“I started this company with a product that was not available on the market, in an industry that had seen little innovation in compressor technology in decades.

“I spotted a gap in the market and never looked back.”

Dmitriev added: “We shall continue to work hard to revolutionise manufacturing capabilities across a range of industries with our micro compressors.”

Last year also saw Dmitriev included in the Manufacturers’ Top 100, as well as winning the Inventor of the Year at the Made in Scotland awards.

In addition, Vert Rotors was recognised at the 2017 British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association awards in June, scooping the Venture-Backed Management Team of the Year gong.