Swaffham-based STG Aerospace has secured a 10-year deal with Boeing to supply its innovative in-flight floor path marking systems on the Boeing Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX aircraft.

The multi-million-pound deal is set to help the firm reach a turnover target of £10m while the 10-year contract extension is also expected to help boost staff numbers.

Nigel Duncan, STG Aerospace chief executive, who joined the firm earlier this year, said the deal helped the firm secure its position as the world leader in its photoluminescent (PhotoLum) emergency floor path marking system, as the line (factory) fit option.

Since the start of this contract in 2000 Boeing has installed more than 2500 kits on Next-Generation 737 series airplanes.

'The attraction of this contract is that it is much longer than before and it's also the first contracts for the 737 MAX,' Mr Duncan said. 'It should add further stability and opportunities for growth in the company. We see a 10pc to 15pc staff increase over the next year.'

The firm employs 20 staff in Swaffham, while about 25pc of its manufacturing spend is with local companies in Norfolk.

'The last contract we had was for five years, so this is double the length,' Mr Duncan added. 'We have an excellent track record with Boeing. We work with more than 300 airlines around the world and we are on 8,000 aircraft. We expect to see a big increase in the number of aircraft over the next five to 10 years and increased demand for both our core product, which is emergency floor lighting, and also associated products and technologies within the cabin arena.

'I would say that we are a world leader in photoluminescent technology on commercial airlines and we are looking at other interesting extensions of that technology.

'We have grown about 20pc per year over the last three years,' he added. 'Our business has been constantly growing and will continue on the basis of this contract.'

As well as its base in Swaffham, STG also has an arm in Miami, in the United States, where it targets both the American and South American market. But last year, the firm saw its growth come from Asia, where it secured major contracts with Singapore Airlines and Scoot.