A GIANT boiler arrived under police escort to be installed at Venator as part of a multi-million investment programme.

The boiler, which is part of a major investment programme totalling over £15m, confirms the firm's commitment to manufacturing at the Greatham site and brings benefits to the local, regional and national economy.

It was the first of four new boilers to be installed at the site after being transported by low loader under police escort over three days, travelling along the M74, M6, A66, A678 and finally along the A1185. The Tees Road had to be closed temporarily to allow the low loader to reverse into site.

Manufactured by Cochran in Scotland, all of the components for the new boilers have been made in the UK.

Venator, a New York Stock Exchange listed business which has its global HQ at Wynyard on Teesside, is a leading chemical company focusing on the development and manufacture of titanium dioxide pigments and performance products. Its products are used in thousands of everyday items, including paints, plastics, inks, cosmetics and even smartphones.

Marek Pawlak, Greatham site director, said: “We’re delighted to see our new state-of-the-art, high efficiency boilers arrive and be installed. It’s a fantastic sight to see, and great to witness a year of teamwork by our skilled colleagues come to fruition.

“This boiler installation project signifies major investment in Greatham and will help us deliver manufacturing resilience. This is the latest in a series of significant investments made at the site over recent years to improve the competitiveness of the site within a global manufacturing landscape, sending a strong signal of our commitment to manufacturing to our customers, workforce and the local community here in the North East.

“As a global company with its HQ on Teesside and other sites in the North East, we’re proud that all the components for these boilers have been made in the UK and that the investment project is helping to boost the local, regional and UK economy.”

Employing more than 4,300 people at 24 facilities worldwide, Venator employs 400 workers at Greatham and 800 across the North East region.