Pictured above: Hopkins' Aston-based workforce celebrate the firm's US success

One of Birmingham's oldest manufacturing companies is using its capabilities and expertise to supply blind and shutter components to the North American market.

Aston-based Hopkins is supplying custom-made springs and blind accessories to companies in America as looks to build up its export markets.

Hopkins - which traces its origins back to 1750 - has been supplying parts to America since 2003, and is now helping US companies with the development of precision components which are being made in Hopkins' Aston factory.

"It's a great tribute to the skills of our workforce that we are able to supply our in-house developed precision components to such a high-tech market as North America," said Hopkins managing director Alex Hopkins.

"We have been supplying companies based in North America for almost a decade and it is valuable business for us, accounting for around 15 per cent of our export market," he added.

"We have been meeting with considerable success in the UK market with our traditional Victorian shop awnings and blinds, but the US market is important to us. We are also looking to expand into mainland Europe."

Hopkins, based in Jameson Road, specialises in making and supplying high quality, bespoke blind, awning and shutter rollers and associated components. The company, which has been in Birmingham since the 18th century, also has a precision engineering division. The family-owned company combines the very best traditional Birmingham engineering skills with the latest computer controlled precision manufacturing.