THE FUTURE of a roadsweeper manufacturer has been secured thanks to a buyout deal.   

Weldrack, which is based in Hunwick, County Durham, has bought Datum Roadsweepers of Meadowfield, near Durham City as part of plans to expand the business and reach into new markets.

Formerly trading as Sturdiluxe, Datum Roadsweepers designs and manufacture industrial and agricultural sweeping attachments, and has been a stalwart in the market since the 1960s. In testament to the build quality of its products, Datum still offers spares support for machines it built in the 1970s.

Weldrack, which supports the construction, engineering and energy sectors, plan to use the established Datum brand to expand into new sectors and the international market.

With Datum’s owners looking to retire, Weldrack managing director Jeff Metcalfe and operating director, Graham Emerson made the decision to acquire Datum as the Meadowfield company faced closure.

Now a member of NOF Energy, the business development organisation for oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewables sectors, the acquisition will eventually see Weldrack double its existing workforce to 16 employees as the existing business begins to feed into Datum Roadsweepers.

As part of the acquisition, Weldrack is putting efforts into expanding the Datum brand with the creation of two new divisions, attachments and industrial, and reaching into both new and existing markets.

Mr Metcalfe, said: “The move for the acquisition seemed to be one that made sense for us in our current phase of expansion, and for Datum as its owners and staff were ready to wind the business down.

“Being able to utilise the historic and reputable Datum Roadsweepers brand provides us with an exciting opportunity to innovate, expand both Weldrack and Datum services, and reach new markets.”