TOOLMAKER Hilti is drilling for success to mark its 50th anniversary in Greater Manchester with plans to double its turnover and staff numbers despite the economic downturn.

The Trafford Park company has formulated a plan called Vision 2015, which aims to double its UK sales to around £180m over the next seven years.

This will also see staff numbers in Britain increase from 700 to around 1,400. Its Trafford Park workforce will rise from 160 to more than 300.

The group, which began life in the European principality of Liechtenstein in 1941, opened its first UK branch in Manchester in 1958 and now has a further 22 branches nationwide.

Adrian Murphy, managing director of Hilti GB, said: "We are undoubtedly heading into a tougher economic climate but our market share is still at a level that we can grow.

"Vision 2015 aims to capitalise on this potential, and another way we aim to achieve this is by launching new products to the market.

"For example, something we've just launched is our `fleet management' scheme which enables clients to pay a single monthly fee that covers tool usage, repairs, servicing, calibrations and theft coverage - for up to five years.

"Something else which will help us to continue growing - and help us through the current economic climate - is that we sell direct to the end users, whether it be a one-man band or the likes of construction giant Balfour Beatty. This means that we can keep our costs down."

Globally, the group employs 21,000 people, and sales to the end of last year topped the £2bn mark.

While the company is still probably best known for its nail guns, it manufactures a huge range of construction tools and fastenings from sites in Liechtenstein, Hungary, Germany and China.

Chairman Pius Baschera said that the Vision 2015 initiative should result in its number of employees worldwide increasing to more than 35,000 and global turnover rising from £2.5bn to around £5bn by 2015.

Mr Baschera said: "This is a very significant year for our business in Manchester and Britain since it is now 50 years since we first moved here.

"The education sector and forthcoming Olympics should result in the construction sector remaining active for the next few years.

"Our founder's original mantra was to focus on the market and that has always stood the company in good stead - particularly now we are entering this difficult economic period."