A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning manufacturer boosted profits despite a fall in sales after a major acquisition.

Wozair, which has its headquarters in Gillingham, managed to increase pre-tax profits by 48% to £6 million in 2016, its latest accounts show.

This was despite a 1% dip in turnover to £39 million, driven by a drop in international demand.

In June of that year, it completed the takeover of Jet Environmental Systems in Solihull, which designs, supplies and installs air conditioning systems for large warehouses and industrial facilities in the pharmaceutical, confectionary and retail sectors.

Wozair mainly serves the nuclear, oil and gas industries.

Directors believe the company, which employs about 175 people, has “performed very well in an extremely challenging worldwide market”.

European and Far East sales declined by 37% and 39% respectively, although UK turnover more than doubled.

In his company report, co-owner Simon Collins said: “During the year the oil price recovered from a low in January to stabilise at around $50 per barrel. Operators continued to reduce costs and seek ways to make projects viable in the low price environment.

“We are now seeing a number of new significant projects that have been sanctioned.”

Last June, the company bought a majority stake in Veotec, an international manufacturer of air separation and filtration products, serving the marine, power generation and oil and gas industries.