Dorchester-based business Dorset Aluminium Products Ltd has been bought by Darren Taylor Holdings Ltd, based in Shaftsbury.

Dorset Aluminium Products was founded in 1971 and employs around 30 members of staff, providing a full in-house manufacturing, metal spinning and finishing service. 

During the pandemic, the company finished vital pieces needed in Covid testing machines.

Until recently, the company - which has an annual turnover of £1.5m - was owned by Tim Perry, who retired in 2007, and Noel Hope. Mr Hope will remain in the business as managing director. There will be no change to the running of the business.

Darren Taylor also owns Aftech Engineering in Swindon, which specialises in all areas of metal fabrication, including laser cutting, welding, drilling and sawing.

He said: "I am very pleased to have negotiated a successful deal with Tim and Noel. Dorset Aluminium Products is a solid, successful engineering business that fits nicely with our other engineering firm, Aftech Engineering. I am impressed with the business Tim and Noel have built and am pleased to be part of its future."

Mr Hope said: "It was a pleasure working with Tim for so may years. I am proud of the company we built, the staff we employ and the products we produce. As a team we worked hard during Covid to keep supplying the parts needed for the Covid testing machine. This is a new chapter for the company, and we are looking forward to building a bigger and better company with Darren on board."