Member Article

Key German contract for Hartlepool's C&A Pumps

Hartlepool-based engineering outfit, C&A Pumps, has secured a contract with German pump manufacturer Vogelsang.

C&A will supply and maintain products for Vogelsang, who specialise in producing pumps to remove waste from train carriages, aircraft and abattoirs.

The firm are also in talks to become a distributor for an Indian pump manufacturer as it looks to grow its presence across Europe.

Alan Roberts, managing director of C & A Pumps and Engineering, said: “It’s fantastic that we are not only establishing a reputation in this country but are now being noticed across the world.

“It’s all down to the very specialised nature of the work we do and the fact we have the knowledge, expertise and experience to work in a variety of sectors and industries.

“The partnership with Vogelsang is a significant one because they are one of the more specialist pump manufacturers in the world with some very significant contracts. They were keen to source a partner in the north of the UK and we have been able to match their needs.”

C & A Pumps caught the attention of Vogeslang – based in Essen in Germany – due to the diverse range of projects the firm has successfully completed since it was launched.

Initially, C & A Pumps installed and maintained pumping, electrical and mechanical systems primarily for building firms, local authority premises, offices and business centres.

But the business soon attracted the attention of other sectors particularly the agricultural and chemical industries winning contracts with the likes of Huntsman, Ineos, Johnson Matthey and steel manufacturer SSI, as well as Bellway Homes, Sedgefield Racecourse and several riding stables and golf courses.

Mr Roberts, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, believes that his company’s strength for completing specialised, technical jobs which other firms might not be able to provide, has proved a winning formula.

The business is on target to turnover £1.2 million this year and won the manufacturing category at the recent Tees Valley Best New Business Awards.

Mr Roberts added: “We are confident that we can always come up with a solution to every problem. That is the case with the Indian pump manufacturer which we hope to start working with very soon.

“We were initially approached by an engineering company in Zimbabwe who needed some very specialised pumps but they weren’t produced there anymore.

“We managed to track the pumps down to a company in India and that will potentially lead to a partnership to become the European manufacturer, installer and distributor for these specialised pumps and valves.

“It’s very exciting and certainly not what I expected just a couple of years after setting up the business. But it just goes to show what can be achieved when you are challenged to prove what you can do.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .