A BUSINESS venture which began in a garden shed in Montrose has

secured #25,000 in funding from British Steel (Industry), the enterprise

arm of British Steel, and sizable equity stakes from the British Telecom

Future Start Fund and British Coal (Enterprise).

With such backing the company has been given the opportunity to make a

bigger noise in the music industry.

Carlton Amplification has pioneered a new technique in guitar

amplifiers which replaces the traditional amp's limited life valve with

a high-tech Smooth Tube which never wears out.

Director Mr Mark Paton designed and built his first amp in the shed

six years ago because he could not afford to buy one. The next six, sold

to colleagues at Edinburgh University, ensured the birth of the

business.

The company has now outgrown its West Lothian workshop, and Mr Paton

and fellow director Jaqueline Pierpoint have moved the firm with BSI

help to Dundyvan industrial estate, Coatbridge.

Jaqueline Pierpoint said Mr Paton's CAD skills were behind the

success. He had designed an amp which sounded as good as much more

expensive amps and because of the microchip circuitry was also smaller

than amps of similar output. ''We have never advertised the amps. They

have sold solely on their sound quality.''

BSI regional executive Mr Rod McLaren said the company had a great

deal of potential and an innovative and exciting product. It was also

one of a diverse range of modern companies being attracted to

Lanarkshire.

''As they discovered on a trip to Europe's top music exhibition in

Frankfurt in March, there is a tremendous amount of interest in their

Smooth Tube amps from the trade and recreational guitarists alike.''

The company produces the amps in amp/speaker combinations or as rack

speaker systems with separate amplifiers.

Mr McLaren said that companies had to submit a very detailed business

plan, including three-year projections and marketing strategies, before

being considered for an investment.