with the opening of the newly installed rod extrusion plant in April 2010; a pivotal part of its operations at the Doncaster works and the only fully integrated rod extrusion production plant in the UK.

The opening of the new plant represents exciting times for Pegler Yorkshire part of the global Aalberts Group.  The investment has allowed Pegler Yorkshire to remain independent thereby avoiding the volatility of the markets. Improvements in health and safety and environmental responsibilities of the plant are all measurable with less manual handling and the consumption of approximately 30% less energy.  Overall it ensures long term manufacturing of quality products at the Doncaster site for some considerable years to come.

Jan Aalberts, Group Executive Officer commented, “This is an important day for Pegler Yorkshire and Aalberts Industries in terms of UK investment and group growth. All the team at Pegler Yorkshire have worked tirelessly to commission and install this extensive investment which is an intrinsic part of the continued growth of manufacturing at Pegler Yorkshire.”

Extruded brass bar has been made at Doncaster for decades where it has been used to manufacture brass products for the plumbing and heating industries.  The new facility, which is part of a £12m, three year investment programme, has been partly funded by a grant from The Department for Business and Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) in conjunction with Yorkshire Forward and DMBC.  State of the art equipment and automated machinery will replace the current rod making facility allowing increased business opportunities to be sourced and achieved.

“We are delighted with our new plant,” commented Production Director Graham Fawcett. “The opportunity to increase production of our brass bar and to keep this manufacturing heritage here at Doncaster is an exciting one. Furthermore it will generate exciting business opportunities and develop our extensive product range providing our customers with the opportunity to continue to benefit from our fantastic reputation for service and quality and reinforcing the Pegler Yorkshire brand as the premier choice within the plumbing and heating market sectors.”