£100 million of new business for Peterlee's GT Group

Peterless-based advanced engineering specialists GT Group has secured £100 million of additional business as it enters one of the fastest periods of growth in its 30 year history.

It experienced year-on-year growth of 25 percent in 2013 with a growth forecast of a further 35% for 2014.

The order book, which has been significantly enhanced during the last six months, will keep GT’s workforce occupied from 2015 to at least 2020.

GT Group, which employs 350 people across the North East, supplies its innovative engine emissions control systems to leading manufacturers of heavy duty commercial vehicles across the world.

A range of new agreements has been reached with major players in the sector, resulting in GT Group being nominated as component suppliers for engine platforms for the period 2015 to 2020.

This will increase the number of engine platforms supplied from 320,000 in 2013 to 500,000 in 2015.

GT Group chairman Geoff Turnbull said: “The decisions by some of the world’s leading manufacturers to designate our technology for engine platforms is the key to advance orders in the region of £100 million per year after five years.

“The engine technology is essential for trucks and heavy duty off-road vehicles in developed markets, which need to meet tough emissions criteria and it is now being adopted by all manufacturers of heavy duty diesel engines.

“Our success in achieving advance designation will ensure our products, manufactured in the North East, are exported all over the world.

“It is a real contribution to the regional and UK economy and to employment in the years to come.”

GT Group’s emission control valves, which use the latest emissions technology, are fitted to a wide range of heavy duty diesel engines including marine and construction vehicles, diggers, excavators and HGVs.

GT has forged an impressive reputation for its research and design capabilities and its abilities to meet the rigorous standards required in a very demanding market.

The strong order book also will benefit the wider North East business community with GT having a policy of sourcing its materials and supplies from local companies wherever possible.

GT has five different businesses designing and manufacturing products including emissions reduction parts for a range of industrial vehicles, safety systems for transporting oil, gas and other hazardous liquids and special vehicle bodies for the mining industry.

About 15 percent of the company’s 350-strong workforce is employed in design or administration with the rest involved in manufacturing.

This year, GT Group was honoured in two prestigious independently researched business rankings.

It came 74th in the Sunday Times International Track 200, which highlights Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing overseas sales.

It also was named as the North of England company with the fastest-growing profits in the Sunday Times PwC Profit Track 100.

GT Group has a host of world class customers, comprising on and off highway diesel engine manufacturers, with which it often collaborates on the development of its revolutionary emission systems. This is to ensure that it meets the exacting demands and future needs of its industry leading clients.

In the 1980s, Mr Turnbull formed GT Group, which today has a head office at Peterlee, County Durham, and sites in Consett, Newton Aycliffe and Sunderland.