Rapid growth for Cummins

Feb 7 2008 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

EXPONENTIAL demand for British engines from Asia has taken production at Cummins’ plant in Darlington to record levels.

And a booming order book has seen the Tees Valley workforce grow by 240 to 1,000 in the past 12 months.

Globally Cummins group said its annual sales had risen 15% during 2007 to £6.7bn with the Darlington site playing “an important part” in the success.

Engine production has risen by more than one third at Darlington in the past 12 months - with 79,314 engines manufactured.

Exports to Europe and Asia increased and now represent more than 60% of production. And 17,000 of Darlington’s engines were exported to China.

Demand was driven by a number of factors including the China’s need for the latest low emission engines to be used in buses at the Beijing Olympics this year.

Companies in China exporting their products into Europe - where there are tougher emission standards for engines - are also looking to Cummins for engine orders.

Darlington plant manager, Tim Millwood said: “It has been an amazing year for the plant in 2007.”

A company spokesman added Darlington’s order book for 2008 was healthy and the site was hoping for “another strong year”.

Today Rolls-Royce also reported growth in orders in Asia. Its order book increased by 76% to a record £45.9bn in 2007, with the Asia and Middle East order book more than doubling to £20bn.