A CIVIL engineering company says it is more efficient after buying £80,000 surveying equipment.

The Owen Pugh Group, which employs more than 370 North-East workers, says new measuring devices will speed up work in its contracts team.

The division specialises in earthmoving, demolition, civil engineering and landfill, and bosses say it will use the instruments on various projects, including work on Blaydon Shopping Centre and Cramlington Hospital.

Martin Forster, Owen Pugh Contracts’ general manager said: “The investment is already reaping dividends because the search speed is much quicker.

“The fact we can use them in the same area at the same time allows multiple engineers to survey or set out on one site without any interference.”

Earlier this year, Owen Pugh invested £100,000 in laboratory work to support its growing construction division, extending its materials testing laboratory at Marsden Quarry, near Sunderland.

It says it has allowed experts to carry out advanced tests on aggregates, concrete sampling and soil density.

The firm, which bases its HCS Drain Services division in Stockton, has also moved its GDC civil engineering division into a new depot in Blaydon, North Tyneside.

The GDC business carries out drainage, flood alleviation and regeneration work for local authorities and water utility firms.