Business: Dunmow steel firm is set for a record year

A FORD END steel fabrication company has forged its way into a record-breaking year after securing its largest ever contract. Pleshy Forge Ltd snapped up a lucrative �200,000 contract to produce the steel structure framework for an extension at a Suffolk

A FORD END steel fabrication company has forged its way into a record-breaking year after securing its largest ever contract.

Pleshy Forge Ltd snapped up a lucrative �200,000 contract to produce the steel structure framework for an extension at a Suffolk mansion.

The job is providing many challenges for the company; it is twice as large as any previously undertaken by the firm and requires over 100 tonnes of steel.

Company director, Ian Clements, said: "The biggest problem was logistics.

"We had to upgrade or replace most of the equipment we use as the steel beams we were working with weighed up to five tonnes each, much more than we were used to."

The extension, commissioned by a Kuwaiti businessman, required using steel for its strength. One of the features of the build was marble flooring, the weight of which other materials would not be able to support.

To cope with the extra workload Pleshy Forge Ltd has taken on three new members of staff - and Mr Clements intends to continue the expansion.

"Working with large amounts of steel was a big challenge, especially doing it safely, but we want people to know we are kitted out for these larger jobs," he said.

"We are a very versatile company. We usually deal with smaller scale projects such as iron railings, but this has been the opportunity to expand our range of services available."

Pleshy Forge Ltd - which was given the opportunity to bid for the contract on its record of quality - will begin assembly of the steel beams on site in the next few weeks. It is estimated the work will be finished by early March.