OMIGA GLASS, of Blackwood, has been recapitalised with finance from UK Steel Enter-prise, the body set up by British Steel, to sweeten its withdrawal from traditional industrial areas.

About £300,000 has been poured into Omiga's coffers to help the firm reorganise its business, and push ahead with sales of the new Pilkington Active self-cleaning glass.

Omiga has described the self-cleaning glass as the most significant innovation in the industry in many years.

UKSE Fund Managers, a subsidiary of UK Steel Enterprise, has provided a £175,000 investment. The money was sourced from (venture capitalist) Finance Wales' mezzanine fund, which UKSE manages.

A further £25,000 has come from UK Steel Enterprise itself.

Omiga director Mike Evans said: "The finance means we have been able to reorganise and update the facilities.

"In a competitive market it's vital to stay on the cutting edge, and we were particularly pleased with the speed with which the deal was completed. We're grateful to UK Steel Enterprise and our advisers, Broomfield and Alexander, for this."

Over the next three years Mr Evans plans to develop his business from its present £1 million turnover to £1.7 million. He anticipates the workforce rising from 18 to 28.

Pilkington's self-cleaning glass is growing in popularity and Omiga is determined to take advantage of it.

Mr Evans said: "People are realising that the glass can save a lot of work, especially in places hard to reach.

"Although it costs more than conventional glass, people are opting for it." Omiga has a team of designers who can turn their hands to virtually any application, and this can include vivid imagery on the glass, such as a Second World War Hurricane or complex Celtic patterns.

"Customers are amazed by what the team can do," said Mr Evans.

Mark Hislop, UK Steel Enterprise investment executive, said: "There is a lot of potential for steady expansion, by exploiting the reputation which Omiga has established locally in the last ten years.

"The fact that Omiga concentrates on quality products backed with ten-year guarantees was another factor in our decision to support the business."

UK Steel Enterprise is now a subsidiary of Corus.