A small company is packing a big punch across the globe, developing parts for Formula 1 cars, space orbiters and now a brain scanner for children which could detect conditions such as epilepsy.

Magnetic Shields Ltd (MSL) has been based in Staplehurst for more than 60 years and produces specialised magnetic shields – a material which protects or blocks magnetic fields – for electronic components.

It has recently built a second multi-million pound factory and headquarters, committing its future to the county.

Although the firm has been around for more than half a decade, magnetic shields has not always been its main export.

Around 20 years ago, the company was more focused on creating TV stands for old-school televisions before it was bought by entrepreneur Colin Woolger who stopped that production.

His son and the current managing director of MSL, David Woolger, said: "That was clearly a dying market.

"The company actually had a real challenging couple of years to turn around and focus again on magnetic shielding.

"In the last 10 to 20 years we have focused fully on magnetic shielding again and we are working with some real big global companies."

MSL specialises in creating bespoke magnetic shields and has developed new technology for things such as brain imaging, microchip manufacturing and electric cars.

Its products have been used in numerous medical applications including the sequencing of Covid genomes, as well as in the Formula 1 industry for teams such as Red Bull and McLaren, and aerospace and aeronautics.

A shield is used to prevent the earth's magnetic field from interrupting or disrupting a product – think of it as similar to aeroplane mode on a phone.

For example, in Formula 1, MSL has helped create a small part in the car which helps technology measure where the vehicle is on the track.

The part has to be shielded to ensure it does not interfere with other fields in the car, and vice versa, so it all works as it should.

For an object to become 'magnetically shielded' it has to be heat treated with hydrogen in a furnace at around 1,100C to ensure the metal's inpurities are gone.

All of MSL's products are made on-site in Headcorn Road and are either welded or laser cut depending on the material and shape.

It is an extremely niche market and skill, so many of the 80 staff have been trained in-house, with skills passed down within the company.

MSL is now working with Cerca Magnetics at the University of Nottingham to create an advanced brain imaging scanner that can be used on young children, something which has never been done before.

It has been built like a helmet so it can sit safely and easily on the head of youngsters as young as one or two, but still allow them to move about and fidget as children do.

Although it is not yet medically approved, it could mean conditions such as epilepsy could be identified by monitoring activity in the brain.

Research is ongoing in hospitals and in the USA to see how effective it is. It has also been suggested it could be used to diagnose autism and Parkinson's disease.

MSL is also producing parts for a solar orbiter which is flying to the sun, and is involved in creating machinery which makes microchips.

As the company continues to grow and work on new projects it has built a second factory to double its manufacturing capacity.

The 17,222 sq ft space comes after a £3 million investment and has been designed to be net zero by using solar panels, air source heat pumps and rain water harvesting, along with other eco-measures particularly with their furnaces.

It was built by local firms to support employment in the area, something David said is essential to him.

He said: "It is important to build the Kent ecosystem in terms of being able to support the business. We are also very keen to invest in apprentices.

"We cannot recruit people in with the required skills so what we try to do is find younger people we can develop and train in-house and then see grow.

"It is really rewarding when you see someone who joined as a 16-year-old apprentice who has suddenly become shop floor supervisor 10 to 15 years later. It is really quite an achievement."