A NORTH YORKSHIRE factory has formally re-opened in sleek new £3.5 million purpose-built premises, and is hoping to finalise details of what will become the biggest contract in its 50-year history.

Allerton Industries, the structural steel, structural engineering and bridge building company, is keeping details of the contract with an overseas customer close to its chest until all is finalised but it has taken on 11 more jobs, bringing its workforce to 76 people - and counting.

The factory was jointly re-opened by former Yorkshire and England fast bowler Fred Trueman and Geoff Robinson, who joined Allerton Industries as a 15-year-old school leaver half a century ago.

Mr Robinson, the company's first-ever apprentice sheet metal worker, has worked his way up through foreman and works manager to operations director. In the 1980s he spearheaded the team which rescued the business from receivership during severe recession.

Mr Robinson, whose sons, Paul and Steve, also work at Allerton Engineering, project managed the company's move into the new 30,000 sq ft premises at Thurston Road, Northallerton, purpose-built by Thirsk-based integrated design build and development company Severfield-Reeve Projects.

He said: "The new factory is fantastic and will help us go from strength to strength."

Updated: 11:08 Tuesday, October 26, 2004