ZEEKO Ltd

Surfaces that are nearly flat or spherical may be measured to nanometric accuracy using a device known as a swing-arm profilometer (SAP). There are only a handful of such machines worldwide, most of them in universities in the USA. There is only one in Britain, built in a collaboration between UK National Physical Laboratory and University College London, and adopted for further development by Leicestershire firm, Zeeko.

Ultra-precision polishing machine and measuring equipment manufacturer, Zeeko, has won the Midlands regional heat of the 2010/11 International Trade Awards, sponsored by Santander Corporate Banking in association with law firm, Eversheds. The prestigious awards recognise UK importers and exporters that have excelled over the past year, despite the challenges of the current global economic climate.

Designed for finishing glass press moulds, the process is suitable for polishing moulds of any material designed to manufacture super-high-precision components

On a recent visit to OpTIC Glyndŵr in St Asaph, North Wales, Prime Minister David Cameron was particularly interested to see one of the world's largest and most advanced polishing machines in action. Designed and manufactured by British company, Zeeko, it was producing mirror segments for what will be the biggest ever optical telescope, the European extra-large telescope (E-ELT).