MANUFACTURER Berger Closures has secured two deals which it hopes will safeguard jobs and create more positions in the future.

The County Durham company, which manufactures industrial fasteners and metal clamping rings, has signed a contract to supply the British touring car champions, Team Halfords.

Berger, in Peterlee, will provide Team Halfords with engine air in-take clamps and fixings for their highly-tuned British touring cars.

Oliver Collins, manager of Team Dynamics, which designs, builds and runs cars for Team Halfords, said: "We are always looking to improve our cars performance, so its always beneficial to find a supplier capable of meeting our high demands and expectations.

"We look forward to developing a relationship with Berger Closures and to further improve our product with their help."

Berger has been appointed the exclusive European market distributor of Chicago-based BASCO accessories, the leading US packaging accessory supplier. The range includes jars, bottles, cans, covers, pumps, caps, clips and packaging tools

Richard Swart, Berger's managing director, said the move made Berger a one-stop shop in the industrial packaging market.

"We are thrilled to be able to offer this increased range of products to existing customers and our broader market," he said.

"Essentially, these two contract wins help our company diversify into different markets and thereby help secure existing jobs, as well as hopefully lay some foundations for future jobs."

Berger Closures was established in 1988 and employs 25 people. Its core business is the manufacture of clamping rings to clients in the chemical, pharmaceutical, paint, oil and nuclear waste disposal industries.