AV Dawson invests in new crane

Middlesbrough-based multimodal haulier AV Dawson has purchased a £1.8m crane in order to help boost its grain distribution business.

The new Gottwald harbour crane - which can lift 60-tonne loads out of and onto ships at the firm's riverside depot - will complement its other cranes. They can lift 40 tonnes and 170 tonnes respectively.

Rob Turnbull, AV Dawson business development leader, continues: "We are doing a lot of transportation of grain, and the new crane is going to help us develop this business even more."

Turnbull also says the transport of wind turbine parts is something the company is looking to develop in the future.

He adds: "We hope to be able to capitalise on the government's commitment to wind energy through building more offshore wind farms."

The company, which subcontracts much of its road transport work, operates 22 trucks and more than 100 trailers.

Over the past 18 months, the firm has taken advantage of falling commercial property prices to purchase four new sites in the Middlesbrough area.