Now we can kick on

A WARD-winning Stallingborough business Shand Engineering has bought the assets of a South African sister company, creating 12 jobs in a £500,000 deal that will see a new workshop created.

With the World Cup now over the Kiln Lane firm is looking forward to the arrival of 12 large machines used to produce the new line of products that complement the existing hose fitting operations.

A ban on oversized cargo movements during the football tournament was lifted once the final was played, and now the equipment required to make the environmentally- aware dry break couplings, is in transit, heading for North East Lincolnshire.

Brian Purchon, managing director of Shand Engineering, said: "We are transferring the manufacture of dry break couplings from our sister company. It is a very similar product to what we have been involved with, and it makes sense to sell the two together.

"It is quite a significant investment for us. It involves 12 big machines and has led us to lease a unit across the road from our premises, to ensure we have the right space."

Dry break couplings are used in the transfer of fluids from tanks via hoses, preventing spillage when it comes to connection and disconnection.

Mr Purchon said: "It is an environmentally-aware product that has previously been manufactured in South Africa, and sold into Europe, Australia and South Africa.

"Part of the process has also seen us appoint an American distributor. We are hoping to really boost business.

"We are looking for full-time employees, machinists and people to assemble the products. We are currently at 56, so this will be a 20 per cent increase.

"In terms of sales it will add another £1.5 million, but we will be looking to grow that significantly too."

A holder of the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade, Mr Purchon was an Englishman with different frustrations to many of his countrymen when it came to the ultimate football tournament played out over recent weeks.

He said: "We put a programme together for the transfer of all the equipment a few months ago and never gave a thought to the World Cup.

Then we then found that nothing out of specification could be moved during the tournament. We are now looking forward to receiving the shipments in August."