LATEST NEWS

Export demand for Tong Peal vegetable handling machinery is reaching record levels, with one order in three going abroad and interest for the first time in the United States.

Following the company’s largest export order worth more than £1 million to Stavropol in south western Russia, sales have been completed to South America, Australia and increasingly to central and eastern European countries.

“With the modernisation and expansion of agriculture in the newer EU countries, producers are looking to improve the quality of their output, often taking advantage of EU grants,” says Tong Peal managing director Charles Tong. “Coupled with the very competitive value of the pound, this makes our UK machinery an attractive proposition.” 

The latest interest is from the USA where the company’s potato washing and grading lines are attracting producers in Georgia, helped by the tumbling value of the pound against the US dollar.

Tong Peal sales have risen to more than £10 million a year, with the company’s work force at 141 now significantly larger than when Tong Engineering merged with Peal Engineering four years ago. The main Spilsby manufacturing site is now augmented with an overflow plant at Wainfleet.

“The merger has undoubtedly been good for the business,” says Mr Tong. “Tong and Peal each served rather different market sectors so that we can now offer a full range of machinery for potatoes, vegetables and speciality products. Customers benefit, too, from our enlarged service team of six specialist engineers on the road.”