New factory for Tong

UK-based and a world leader in making vegetable grading and handling equipment, Tong Engineering, has started work on a new production facility in Lincolnshire.

The new factory is being built as a two-phase project on a seven-acre site in the company’s hometown of Spilsby, with the £3.6m first phase building expected for completion by spring 2020.

The fourth-generation family business currently operates across two sites in Lincolnshire. On completion of the phase one build, all production will take place in Spilsby, enabling Tong to progress with ambitious growth targets, creating 26 new jobs.

Edward Tong, managing director, said the new investment was great news: “Having developed our current site in Spilsby from its early beginnings in the 1930s, we have had to be very resourceful in how we utilise and maximise our manufacturing space. Our new purpose-built manufacturing facility will provide over 20% more capacity.

“This will not only allow us to better meet demand for our industry-leading equipment, but with the size and scale of many projects increasing all the time, the additional space and height will prove invaluable.”

Kramp invests in the UK

Established agricultural components supplier, Kramp UK, will move to a new warehouse and office suite in early 2020.

After 23 years at its current location in Biggleswade, Kramp UK said various factors, including a move to online sales, meant that it needed a more modern and bigger warehouse.

Located just a short distance from its existing facility, the new 14,000 sq metre warehouse will be three times the size of the current warehouse, with the capacity to store twice the number of items.

Des Boyd, Kramp’s sales director for the UK and Ireland, said: “We’ve seen significant growth in the agricultural spare parts and accessories market over the last number of years and we’ve reached a point where we feel this investment is absolutely necessary to meet the needs of our customers.

“We’re acutely aware that many businesses in the present political and economic climate feel unsure about their growth potential and are looking at alternative markets. Kramp Groep, however, has seen markets in the UK and Ireland go from strength to strength.”

The Dutch-based Kramp Groep is Europe’s largest specialist in spare parts and accessories for the agricultural industry, supplying more than 500,000 products available online, or at 10 distribution centres and 24 sales offices spread across Europe.