A FIRM is celebrating a successful partnership which has lasted almost four decades.

Edbro, based at Nelson Street, Bolton, makes hydraulic systems for tipper, transporter, skip and refuse vehicles, and cranes.

It is highlighting 38 years of work with Blackburnbased North West Tippers.

The company’s roots go back to 1916 when its founder Maurice Edwards developed the first hoist to be powered by a truck engine. Edbro says its products remain at the forefront of the tipping market with increased payloads and reduced tipping times.

While the firm sees its Bolton heritage as important, more than 75 per cent of its cylinders are exported around the world and it has a global reputation.

Its main manufacturing plant is in Bolton and it has 34 office staff and 170 factory employees.

Edbro also has a smaller site near Dublin.

It manufactures all of its products within the British Isles but has offices in France and Germany and other partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, Korea and Australasia.

North West Tippers is family-run and was established in 1974.

One of the first decisions of its founder, Eddie Walton, was to specify Edbro tipping gear for its vehicles.

His grandson, Joe Butler, is now in charge, along with fellow director Craig Taylor, and they have maintained the relationship with Edbro.

Peter Smith, Edbro’s sales and marketing director, said: “We believe it is this foresight, innovative, quality manufacturing and product reliability that has enabled us to remain the market leader and to meet North West Tipper’s requirements for nearly 40 years.

“With our latest investments and initiatives, we are now looking forward to working with them for another four decades.”

Mr Butler said: “Their products are reliable and last.”