Johnson Matthey, which operates a number of North-East plants, says pre-tax profits lifted 22 per cent to A 495.8m in the year to March 31. The successes were built around the company's emission control technologies division, which saw sales rise 12 per cent. The business, which has a site in Billingham , near Stockton, supplies catalysts to car makers around the world that sit in exhaust systems and work to make gases harmless.