NORTH Staffordshire manufacturers have won two out of seven awards in a national competition.

At the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards, Biddulph security equipment firm Rapiscan was victorious in the Business Growth category, while Johnson Tiles in Tunstall won the Environmental Efficiency category.

Both firms had previously triumphed in the Midlands awards before going on to compete against winners from five other regions.

EEF Midlands director Richard Halstead said: "Manufacturing is crucial to our region's economic recovery. Companies like Rapiscan Systems and Johnson Tiles are leading the way."

Rapiscan employs 65 people at its cargo and vehicle inspection division at Victoria Business Park, from where it sends its x-ray scanners to customers all over the world.

They are used by clients including UK Customs to detect contraband such as drugs, tobacco, weapons and explosives.

Rapiscan invested £5 million relocating from Congleton in 2010, a move which created around 25 new jobs.

Plans are in the pipeline to expand its manufacturing facility at Biddulph.

President Ajay Mehra said: "This is accolade a testament of the hard work from the CVI team."

Johnson Tiles, which employs around 400 people at its Harewood Street factory, was honoured for its energy efficiency measures which have included cutting its carbon footprint by eight per cent and slashing water usage, gas emissions and electricity consumption.

Operations director Tony Cotton said: "This award is a huge boost to our continuous improvement teams which have been relentless in their quest to make Johnson Tiles a greener and more efficient manufacturing business."