AN OSWESTRY-based engineering firm has installed a new hot dip kettle as part of an £350,000 investment.

Shropshire Galvanizers', who have been galvanizing in Oswestry since 1995, investment also includes replacing its existing furnace and fume extraction system, as well as the new hot dip galvanizing kettle.

The upgrade to the Oswestry plant took place during the Christmas shutdown and is now fully operational.

The new kettle is longer and wider than the previous one, giving it a 40 per cent increase on its cubic capacity.

Managing director of the firm, David Watkins, says the improvements will help increase workload capacity while maintaining high quality standards.

David Watkins, managing director, said: “The existing kettle had given us 13 good years of service and now is the logical time to replace it.

“Rather than replace the old kettle which one of the same size, we opted for a kettle that is 4.5 metres long and 1.5 metres wide.

“Customers expectations are for ever faster turnarounds and the increased throughput that the larger kettle gives us will help meet these demands and is a fantastic opportunity to grow our business in this new decade.”