The 2012 Olympics project has had a big impact on the company.  The staff were simply told "a client" had commissioned them to gold-plate some aluminium samples.  After a year, workers were asked to sign a confidentiality agreement by the International Olympic Committee.  They then discovered they had been preparing samples for nine Olympic torch prototypes.  "It is totally awesome, we are still gobsmacked to be involved in a big way," declared company director.

It's golden and it's perforated. The two design elements that hit home on first laying eyes on the prototype of the London 2012 Olympic torch.  In fact there are 8,000 small, laser-cut holes in two aluminium skins that are bent around and welded together to form a tapering cone.  Each represents one of the runners who will carry the flame around the UK for 70 days from mid-May next year, on a relay that will take in about 8,000 miles.

Twist and turn it in the hand, inspect each end and it's triangular.  A three-sided torch for London's third Games.  Its shape is also inspired by the three word Olympic motto set out by the founder of the modern Olympics Pierre de Coubertin - 'Faster, Higher, Stronger'.

The torch's designers say they took their inspiration from the desire to make something relevant for each person who will carry the torch.  "We felt it should be something that's really beautiful and simple," says Jay Osgerby of their design.  Eight thousand torches will be made - one for each bearer - it is the flame itself, not the torch, which will be passed on during the relay.

Jay says, "We have the anticipation of the opening ceremony and watching our torch coming in. Anticipating that moment in the stadium is incredibly exciting."