Macclesfield-based engineering and thermal processing giant Bodycote said it expects its full year results to “be marginally ahead of current consensus.”

Bodycote said that for the six months to June 30, 2018, revenue grew 6.4% to £368 million and headline profit before taxation rose 14% to £69.1 million.

It declared an interim dividend of 5.7p, an increase of 8% over the prior year.

In its outlook, Bodycote said: “Robust growth has continued with double-digit revenue progression in specialist technologies, contract wins on automotive and aerospace programmes, and excellent growth across the emerging markets.

“We continue to invest in the ongoing growth of the business through capital expenditure and increased resources.

“While our business by its nature, has limited forward visibility, at current exchange rates, the board expects that the full year result will be marginally ahead of current consensus.”