LINCS-BASED TONG Engineering and Peal Engineering have merged to form a new company – Tong Peal.

According to Charles Tong, with both companies producing similar lines of machinery and operating only 10 miles apart, the creation of one larger business makes good sense.

“Tong Engineering majors in potato handling equipment as does Peal. That meant we were often competing against other for very much the same market,” explains Mr Tong.

“But Peal also produces a range of handling kit for carrots, parsnips and several other speciality crops which will expand our portfolio overall.”

Mr Tong points out that recent years have seen a shift in the market to fewer yet larger growers.

“This has meant that the demand for larger equipment is increasing and we feel the merger with Peal will help us to accommodate this trend,” he says.

Tong Peal will have its headquarters based at Tong’s Spilsby plant with Peal”s Horncastle site taking on a secondary role.

Mr Tong reports he has plans to move the business to a new site in the future.