PORTSMOUTH — Gov. John Lynch has spent a lot of time mulling a tight budget and hearing from those whose livelihoods are on the line with the economic climate.

So it's not surprising that he equated his Thursday visit to Salient Surgical Technologies to a breath of fresh air that proves some Granite State businesses are still thriving amid the turbulence on Wall Street and tightening credit lines.

Lynch stood before more than 100 employees of the recently relocated high-tech medical company and assured them he was impressed by a year that has seen Salient increase business by 50 percent and build a new state-of-the-art headquarters on land at Pease International Tradeport.

"I think what ultimately makes a company strong is the workers," Lynch said.

The governor traveled to the company's new 180 International Drive location for a ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially marked the New Hampshire-based firm's move from 1 Washington St. in Dover.

While some businesses are struggling to keep their heads above water, the leaders behind Salient Surgical Technologies reported they had a banner year in 2008 and have plans to expand their workforce by 40 people in the coming one.

President and CEO Joe Army said the company's recent move from a 22,000-square-foot location in Dover to the new 56,000- square-foot building was designed to meet increased demand for its product — a state-of-the art device that he said virtually eliminates bleeding during many different surgical procedures.

The new building allows room for manufacturing to take place on site and houses its approximately 240 employees who work on everything from research and design to marketing and assembly.

Army said his company grew the business by 50 percent in 2008 and added 80 jobs to help meet demand.

He said upward of 12 percent of "every revenue dollar" is being pumped back into research and design to continue to enhance products he said are used in 400 of the country's top 1,000 hospitals.

Army said Salient is doing well, but is also working harder to help a medical industry that hasn't been immune to the country's economic woes.

He said part of research and design is finding better ways to build the product.

"We have to help the hospitals control costs," Army said.

Part of improving the decade-old company's product meant a December move to a new facility that was a welcome sight to Portsmouth Mayor Tom Ferrini and Pease Development Authority Chair Art Nickless.

Salient officials said they simply ran out of room at the Dover location and looked to their International Drive location as a place to build a facility that will take their business forward and keep manufacturing "in-house."

Nickless said the addition of Salient Surgical Technologies at Pease brought even more diversity to a tradeport built on several industries.

"All of our eggs are not in one basket," Nickless said.

He noted the company is an example that the current economy is not purely "doom and gloom."

Department of Resources and Economic Development Commissioner George Bald took part in Thursday's ceremony and called the surgical equipment manufacturer an example of the type of hi-tech "brainpower" New Hampshire workers can exhibit.

Lynch — the former head of a furniture manufacturer — said New Hampshire should be proud to have a company like Salient budding in the Granite State.

The governor praised the company for getting financing approved for the construction during a time when banks are more reluctant to give loans.

Thursday's gathering allowed employees at the business to meet Lynch as company officials held tours of the new facility.

John Huff/Staff photographer Gov. John Lynch talks to employees Thursday at Salient Surgical Technologies during a celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new location in the Pease International Tradeport. Click here to view Foster's prints for sale