AVK UK staff in Chesterfield were preparing to pack up and move 'lock, stock and barrel' three miles down the road to the company's new valve manufacturing facility following the handover of the new premises.

Occupying a 5.5-acre site and with a full 70,000 sq ft at its disposal (double what was available until now), the new factory has ample space to house all of the 80 manufacturing and sales staff, so for the Donkin side of the business the move means an end to an association with Derby Road in the town centre that dates back more than a century.

But there will be no time for nostalgia, because the new beginning incorporates the best of 21st century technology - an invigorating boost to the business (and a sign of the AVK Group's commitment to its future) that has been gradually taking shape on the new Ireland Industrial Estate. Links to the national motorway network are equally up to the minute because the new factory is close to the planned junction 29A of the M1, so when the new connection opens to traffic AVK's products will be on their way to customers faster than ever.

Manufacturing processes have been commissioned and brought up to production speed well ahead of the changeover in order to build a substantial stock platform so that there is no disruption to the supply chain.