Not every business can look overseas for growth, but, like the number one business Pentagon Holdings - profiled in this column last month - it is the principal reason behind Wozair's phenomenal performance.

International expansion has been the key to the firm's growing reputation in the offshore oil drilling industry.

Offices have opened in strategic locations such as Singapore, Brisbane, Houston and Dubai. It also has agents in France, Holland, South Korea, Poland and Russia. Up to 90 per cent of the firm's £17m turnover (June 2009) was generated overseas.

Wozair's name has spread worldwide following a bold decision to focus on overseas markets and locating to places where clients and potential clients are based. There are few offshore oil rigs without a ventilation system and fire dampers made by Wozair.

Growth has been spectacular, particularly in recent years, servicing offshore and onshore oil and gas markets, marine, process/petrochemical and building services.

A joint venture with a South Korean shipbuilder has paid huge dividends. "The underlying reason for our expansion in the last four or five years is primarily the work we've picked up in the South Korean shipyard where we've been able to get a turnkey package," says Alistair Brooks, Wozair's proposals engineering manager.

"As the company's presence has grown stronger, we've picked up more work and become more successful. We try and work with the client all the way through a job, it's not just a question of supplying our equipment and that's it."

Wozair designs, manufactures, and installs ventilation systems and fire dampers to semi-submersible drilling rigs that can be moved from one location to another.

They are critical to successful rig operation as well as crew safety and comfort. "Without the ventilation system, the rigs won't work," says Mr Brooks.

Some 80 people now work at the Gillingham factory, with a further 100 overseas.

The company, previously known as Waterloo Air Technology, is spearheaded by directors Simon Collins and Paul Azzopardi who led a management buyout from Aylesfordf-based Hunter International. Its name was shortened to Wozair in 2000.

Wozair's products are not only on oil rigs. They can be found, for example, in Harrods, Thamesport (Isle of Grain), Pfizer (Sandwich) and Dungeness power station.

Mr Brooks expects international markets to offer continued growth in the coming years.