A newly-opened business is promising to bring jobs and foreign contracts to the region.

Northern Grinding and Granulating Equipment Engineering has opened in Middlesbrough with the help of a £7,800 Enterprise Grant from regional development agency, One NorthEast.

The business, which will create three jobs, has already secured contracts to manufacture, service and repair plastic granulating equipment.

Managing director Michael Gaines-Burrill said the company would be able to provide services for many European companies as well as servicing UK businesses that have previously taken their work abroad.

Mr Gaines-Burrill, who has worked in the engineering equipment business for 32 years, said: "With the support of One NorthEast, we have already won some great contracts from the UK and now are looking further afield to attract trade from European-based companies to bring work back from abroad."

The director of Teesside Power and Transmission, Mr Gaines-Burill, said he created the company after spotting a gap in the market for a dedicated service to supply parts and maintain machinery in the plastics grinding industry.

In the past five years, One NorthEast has helped more than 3,600 business start up.

Published: 14/09/2004