A Queen's Award-winning Gloucestershire business has acquired a specialist South American jacket manufacturer in a deal which paves the way for growth.

But this is not a story about a fashion brand, it is about an engineering firm from Gloucester and its purchase of Brazilian jacket manufacturer Isoremov.

Advanced Insulation, which has its headquarters in Hardwicke, is already a leading manufacturer of technical coatings and fire protection materials usually associated with the oil, gas, petrochemicals and LNG industry.

According to Advanced Insulation the wider insulation market was worth $45 billion in 2017 and growth is expected to be six per cent this year alone and South America is a major market.

Isoremov supplies insulation jackets to the renewable, sugar cane and ethanol markets in Brazil.

Katia Regina, the former owner, becomes sales manager for the ContraFlex brand at Advanced Insulation Brazil.

"Joining forces with Advanced Insulation brings a significant benefit to Isoremov, the Brazilian insulation market and our potential for future growth.

"Heightening efficiencies, technical expertise and an expansion of the range of products we can offer to the Brazilian marketplace is great news for our existing and potential client base across the region.

"I am excited to learn more about the new range of products we will be able to offer, from acoustic to high temperature turbine insulation and acid, alkali and steam detection jackets."

Joao Volpato, general manager of Advanced Insulation Brazil, said: "Katia and her business will help us to strengthen our relationships with local businesses, having worked here in Brazil for over six years. We look forward to this new period of growth."