CHRISTMAS came early for seating manufacturer Audience Systems when it sealed orders worth £1.6 million last week.

The Westbury-based firm is one of west Wiltshire's largest employers and staff can now look forward to better job security and prospects when they start work for the Color Line Arena project in Hamburg, Germany.

This is just one of a number of projects planned for construction in Europe over the next four years.

Earlier this year, Audience Systems was forced to make redundancies, blaming a downturn in business, high overheads and the value of the pound.

However, it promised to bounce back with fresh ideas from a new management team.

Mark Cowley, the head of sales and projects, said: "This contract underpins Audience Systems' sales strategy and we will have a good work base for next year.

"It's the biggest deal we've ever done and we will design and supply 14,000 seats for an ice hockey arena, which we hope to complete by September next year."

Mr Cowley was relieved that after a difficult start to the year, the past six months had seen a huge growth in sales.

He said: "Even if we had not won the contract, we would still have had sufficient business to maintain the current staffing level.

"It may be possible to increase our staffing levels as we continue to grow."

Established in 1972, Audience Systems was the first UK firm to specialise in the design and manufacture of specialised seating.

Clients have included the Royal Albert Hall and Walt Disney Studios.

The company is internationally renowned and installs seating for major international arenas, halls, theatres, sports and art centres, and education facilities.

Based on the West Wiltshire Trading Estate, it now employs 70 people and is part of the Kotobuki Corporation, Japan.

Audience Systems faced stiff competition against eight competitors for the contract and Mr Cowley said the quality of its product won through.

"We've had a lot of bad press in the past, but this has been a real confidence booster.

"We had a tough time last year, but we no longer have any worries about any more redundancies."