A STEEL firm's £500,000 investment in new equipment will help it boost output by 20 per cent and cut delivery times.

Armstrong Steel, based in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, bought a specialist metal cutting device to improve the service it provides.

The RDB Combination Line, the only machine of its kind in the North-East and Scotland, slits, blanks and de-coils sheet steel.

The equipment is fitted with its own CCTV system to ensure that operations can be viewed at all times.

General manager Rob Ridge said: "It can cut steel up to 3.2mm thick at a rate of 150 metres a minute. That is 20 per cent quicker than our previous capability.

"In today's fast-moving industry, customers demand quick turnaround times. With our state-of-the-art cutting equipment we aim to deliver within 48 hours of an order, subject to stock availability.

"This investment is a tremendous boost for our business and will enable us to provide an even better service to our customers, reinforcing our position as a powerful and reliable partner."

Armstrong Steel employs 44 staff from its Drum Industrial Estate location.