BURY-based Air Vane Compressors has been selected as the local distributors for the UK's only compressors manufacturers, Hydrovane.

And the accolade, a tribute to the Bury firm's expertise in this field, is expected to bolster the company's order book and strengthen its already enviable position within the national and international air compressors market.

Delighted general manager Tim Emmerton said: "We've been dealing with Hydrovane since 1988 and we're delighted that they've awarded us the distributorship for Bury and Bolton. They had initially approached us about this and they're the only manufacturers of compressors in the UK."

Air Vane, located at Smiths Yard off East Street, Bury, is also a distributor for Italian compressor manufacturers Abac.

The business boasts maintenance agreements and service contracts with more than 500 customers in the North West alone.

And the firm's overseas credentials are also impressive. "We export between ten and 15 per cent of our turnover," added Mr Emmerton. "And quite a number of our clients are other compressor companies abroad." In fact, its worldwide parts department serves customers as far away as North and South America, Africa and Asia.

He went on: "Compressed air is classed as the fourth utility in industry and has so many different applications - from pumping up tyres to operating cylinders on production lines. Half of all our machine sales are reconditioned units which are overhauled and warranted by our engineering team." The 11-strong company was launched in 1988 and was originally based in Radcliffe.