A Carrickfergus-based technology company has won a US contract worth £500,000.

Yelo Ltd, founded in 1983, used the opportunity of an Invest Northern Ireland trade mission to win the business.

The company currently employs 21 people and specialises in the design and development of automated equipment for testing and measuring the performance of lasers, radar systems and electronic products.

Yelo's new customers in San Francisco and San Jose are equipment manufacturers of products for the broadband telecommunications industry, and radar systems for the aerospace industry.

David Simms, Yelo's sales and marketing director, said: "The US is a crucially important marketplace for us because of its sharp focus on new technologies. It is still the world technology leader and major exporter of high-tech equipment.

Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI trade director said: "Yelo is operating successfully in a very important niche and has made good use of our trade missions and the help of our consultants based in the market to develop significant business in leading-edge technology centres such as California's Silicon Valley.

"This position, in an immensely important market, is enabling this progressive company to benefit from investment by businesses there in innovative systems that will help strengthen economic recovery worldwide."