A RAWTENSTALL firm is among two East Lancashire technology companies set to benefit from special grants from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Quantum Air Technology Ltd in Rawtenstall has received £45,000 to carry out a feasibility study into producing a portable compliant isolator for hospitals under the Smart grant scheme.

The product would provide a sterile unit for treatments to be made up by staff as needed when the hospital pharmacy is closed.

Currently treatments which should be prepared in sterile conditions are often made up on the ward in uncontrolled conditions outside pharmacy hours.

The company was started two years ago by Graham Miles, Ray Dawson and Ryan Chesworth. Mr Miles said the response to a recent survey of up to 100 hospitals had been encouraging.

"We believe the demands would be several units for every hospital in the UK," he said.

The company, which also makes bio chemical defence products, was aiming to have the isolator on the market in four months, he said.

"The grant is good news because we are only a small company, there are only three of us here. Once we have got this thing into full volume production we would maybe double in size. We want to expand the company, not stand still."

Meanwhile, airports and airlines have turned to a Darwen company in their bid to step up security following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. The human barcode system is in the final stages of development by Navigator Solutions Ltd in Duckworth Street.

The idea is based around a bar code containing personal details including fingerprint and a photograph which could be included on staff badges, pass cards or even flight tickets.

The company has said the technology is capable of being added to passports and would increase security at check-in desks as well as for aircraft employees.

It has had inquiries from airports and airlines worldwide in the wake of the terrorist atrocities last September as global flight security is stepped up.

NSL has already enjoyed success with its Fingertech Nav 500 system, developed after a £75,000 government grant. The device, which uses fingerprint recognition technology, unlocks doors in 200 milliseconds by scanning a fingerprint, and can store 1,400 users.

It has been a big hit with companies wanting controlled access to their premises, to replace swipecard and other systems.

NSL was set up three years ago by Chris Marsden and Mark Underwood who have spent two years developing the hi-tech security device, thanks to the funding from the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Smart programme.

Mr Marsden said the company, which has just shipped its first batch of orders of the Nav 500, was in the middle of its second production run and had plans to expand and move to bigger premises.