International growth powering Carr’s engineering arm

CARR’S Milling Industries says strong international demand is driving growth in its  engineering business.

The Carlisle-based agriculture, food and engineering group – which reported first half profit growth of 31% today – has operations in Germany and the US.

First half revenue in engineering was 33% up at £7.4m with profits rocketing 175% to £1.6m, reflecting strong demand, the completion of significant contracts and an expanding order pipeline.

It Germany-based business Wälischmiller, has amassed orders of  more than €40m amid strong demand from France, Germany, Japan, Korea and Russia.

Carr’s is investing in a new factory at Wälischmiller, which specialises in remote handling technology and robotics. Phase one of a new €4m factory at Markdorf is on schedule to complete this summer.

Another engineering susbsidiary, Bendalls, which supplies products and services  to the oil and gas, petrochemical, nuclear, and renewable energy sectors, has worked in the US on the Hanford nuclear treatment plant in Washington state.
 
Group chief executive Chris Holmes said: “Bendalls has also won a multi-million pound contract to supply pressure vessels for a floating production storage and offloading platform, being manufactured by Hyundai in South Korea, for the BP Quad 204 area west of the Shetland islands.”