THE newest division of engineering company The Tanfield Group yesterday announced its biggest fleet order to date after securing a £2.4m contract with a major European client.

The Tyne and Wear-based group's UpRight Powered Access division will supply 160 of its aerial work platforms to an unnamed company in a deal worth more than 3.5m euros.

Tanfield chief executive Darren Kell said the deal was struck after the group held a global sales conference last week for more than 100 of its biggest clients.

The contract means the division - bought for £7m in June - remains on course to meet its £50m annual turnover target for 2007.

UpRight, the flagship brand in Tanfield's power access division, has been hailed a "runaway success" after orders rose from less than £200,000 a week in June to £1m.

Tanfield has recently raised £20m through a share placing, which will be invested in UpRight to help meet demand.

Production of the vehicles will take place at Tanfield's new 250,000sq ft Vigo Centre base in Washington, Wearside, formerly the LG Electronics plant.

Mr Kell said the conference was crucial in promoting the group's newest brand.

He said: "The conference marked a key step in our ongoing strategy to develop UpRight as a global brand.

"This order, our largest from a single client since we acquired the UpRight business in June, is a further endorsement of our strategy and demonstrates the continued growing worldwide appetite for UpRight products in a multi-billion pound marketplace."