A FAMOUS name from Darlington's industrial past lives on, 7,000 miles away on the other side of the world.

Once the proud employer of more than 5,000 people in the construction of steel structures for the oil, gas, nuclear and hydro-electric industry, Whessoe closed down its core activities in Darlington in 1995, ending a 200-year association with the town.

Whessoe was founded by William Kitching, a Quaker ironmonger, at a site behind Tubwell Row in 1790.

Down the years its expertise was used to build railway locomotives, storage tanks, chemical plants, offshore rigs and vessels and nuclear power stations.

Whessoe was revived in 1999 in the Asia Pacific region, with companies in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. It employs more than 500 people.

The business is still involved in the fabrication and construction business, and is run by former boss John Tate, managing director, and Asian regional director Kay Bracewell.

Mr Tate started his career as a technical apprentice at Whessoe in Darlington in 1967.

Mr Bracewell joined the business in 1996 after spending most of his working life with competitors of Whessoe.

The Asian company continues to win orders, mainly from many of the old Whessoe's clients, including oil company Shell.

Mr Tate said: "We saw an opportunity and knew the Asian market could support a company like ours, even at a time when their economies were in decline.

"Most of these economies have now turned around and we are facing more inquiries than we can handle."

He added: "Our problem is to contain the amount of orders we take so as not to stretch our limited financial and management resources."

The company continues to make significant investment in plant and equipment to help it move forward.

Mr Tate said: "We currently have some good opportunities in Indonesia and Sri Lanka and maybe one day soon we can expand our operations in these countries."

The largest project the company is involved in at the moment is for steel tunnel linings and gates for the Kalayaan Hydro-electric power project in the Philippines. It is the largest contract ever undertaken by the company.