Hoist for a heavyweight

IT WAS a complex operation to get a new piece of equipment weighing 38 tonnes into a Newton Abbot business.

The enormous crane was drafted in by Teignbridge Propellers to put in place a massive £450,000 new lathe.

Duncan Propellers Holdings, the new owners of Teignbridge Propellers, took delivery of the enormous 38-tonne CNC lathe on Monday.

The lathe was too large to fit through the doors of the Brunel Road factory so it had to be craned over a 30-foot high wall and put into place.

The machine is used for tapering propellers up to 2.50-metres diameter and weighing anything up to four tonnes.

Director David Hunt said: "The company has orders for more than 70 propellers of this size on its books for delivery over the next six months so it will be put to immediate use.

"Our sales team is now upping its effort in securing further orders in the knowledge that we can now offer faster deliveries at very competitive prices."

Teignbridge Propellers, based at Brunel Industrial Estate, manufacture a range of bronze propellers and stern gear to suit any type of boat.