This means that the manufacture, sales and service of Thurne automatic, stand alone bagsealing machines will transfer in their entirety to Select’s Chengate House premises in Leeds.

Select Bag Sealers are well known and highly regarded throughout the Baking Industry and the acquisition of the Thurne range will serve to strengthen its leading position in the market.

Constantly changing consumer lifestyles and retailing methods are dictating the pace of change for machine manufacturers who need to concentrate on producing innovative machines and systems that will boost the production efficiency and profitability of food processors and bakeries. This move will ensure that Select can indeed, offer their customers the very best in bag sealing machines and service, while AEW Delford will focus even more intently on the design, development and manufacture of advanced automatic portion control, weighing, grading and labelling machines and systems for the world’s meat, fish and food processing industry. AEW Delford Systems will continue with the distribution of Hartmann slicing and bagging machines and SR Pack basket loading systems in the UK and Ireland.

Both companies are well aware of the need to maintain the high level of service and support that their customers rightly expect. “Our business will operate from Leeds – providing one efficient, straightforward point of contact for every operation – from sales to service to technical advice. This should enhance our already fast response to customers’ requirements, wherever they are, whatever their need.” said Select’s managing director, Tom Foster.

Select are no strangers to Thurne bagsealers. After 8 years at Thurne, Tom Foster founded his company in 1989 and went on to develop a number of bagsealer designs that became accepted by most of the major bakeries in the UK and abroad. Select also service and maintain substantial numbers of both Thurne and their own machines for bakeries of all sizes.

This solid base of experience and knowledge, coupled with a now greatly increased range of machines will, says Tom Foster, enable Select to grow their sales at home and abroad by as much as 40% in the next 12 months or so.

Both parties are anxious to ensure a successful transition with customer service being the highest priority. Vic Brown of AEW Delford Systems said, “Throughout the negotiations with Select, both Tom and I have been in absolute agreement about the need for complete and excellent customer service – after all, both our businesses are successful because of it. Our bagsealing division could not be in better hands.”