AN engineering company is powering ahead after supplying a world-leading Formula One team.

Workers at Merc Engineering have provided components, including wheel nuts, for the Red Bull Racing team.

And the parts, manufactured at Merc’s base in Barrowford, are helping Red Bull compete for the sport’s constructors’ crown against famous teams like McLaren and Ferrari.

Merc, which also manufactures components for the aerospace and power generation industries, has supplied the Force India team too.

The two deals have led Merc bosses to hire 15 new staff in the past 15 weeks, with employees filling engineering vacancies.

And it is hoped that the company, based in Pendle Street, will boost turnover on the back of the tie-ups.

Merc last year brought in sales of around £4million but that should rise to £4.5million in 2011, said managing director Les Nuttall.

He added: “We have come through the recession and we have been taking on more people recently.

“We are looking at hiring more and if things pick up properly we will go for it.

“We have also been on the phones a lot and we have picked up a lot of new customers.”

Merc has also secured new customers in the aerospace sector and is providing parts to bio-medical firms for surgeons’ instruments.

Meanwhile, a long-term goal is for the company is to become a recognised supplier for Lancashire defence giant BAE Systems.

Merc is committed to ASCE, the North West Aerospace Alliance’s training programme designed to ensure that East Lancashire retains its position as an aerospace leader.