COMPONENTS manufactured by a Kidderminster-based firm are playing an important role in cleaning up oil in the Mexican Gulf after the explosion on BP’s exploration rig.

Bellows and machinery protection specialist, Beakbane, is supplying the world’s three leading manufacturers of oil skimmers with bespoke flexible bellows - essential components for the systems that are being deployed in the aftermath of the £4 million barrel oil spill.

The skimmers float on the sea and, using a powerful pump, create a vortex that sucks up the heavy oil and debris from the surface of the ocean and pumps it through a hose to a nearby vessel.

Barry Reeves, managing director, said the bellows were vital to the success of the clean-up in the Mexican Gulf.

He explained: “They are essential for oil skimmers. They need the bellows fitted on them to be able to operate and we are the market leader in that product.”

Beakbane had to react quickly to meet a 600 per cent rise in demand from the overseas-based oil-skimmer manufacturers.

Following the oil spill in the Gulf, its customers faced an “unprecedented” demand for their products and Beakbane supplied more components over a two-month period than it did in the previous year.

Mr Reeves said that although the bellows only counted for a relatively small percentage of their annual turnover, the success of the product had been a “boost” for the firm.

He explained: “It has certainly been a boost against the background of the economic downturn. We suffered from this in 2008 and 2009 so we have been developing products and attacking export markets.

“Things have certainly improved in this calendar year.”

The components - which range in size from 500mm to 800mm diameter - are moulded from Beakaprene, a specially coated nylon fabric that is resistant to oil, dirt and aggressive environments.

The material was developed in-house by Beakbane as part of its research and development programme of materials and products for demanding applications and environments.

Beakbane is the UK’s leading manufacturer of bellows, safety covers and slideway covers in materials that include fabric, polymers, sheet metal and composites.

Its products are used in industries that range from machine tool building and medical equipment to power generation and security equipment.

The Stourport Road-based company started trading in 1954, employs about 100 staff and has an annual turnover of about £5 million.