Derbyshire-based Forbo Flooring has invested £4.1 million in an upgrade which will increase its manufacturing capacity and efficiency and includes the purchase of a new Double Belt Thermofix laminating machine for making floor coverings.

Nottingham-based Merritts (www.merritts.uk.com) — a specialist in the lifting, removal, transportation, installation and storage of heavy machinery — was appointed to move and install the new machine.

Company director James Merritt said: “We were pleased to provide Forbo with the specialist services it required for the project.

“From the initial offload of the equipment into our secure storage facility through to the onward delivery and provision of installation services, we were able to deliver a complete turn-key solution for their new investment.”

Forbo has been making the Flotex flooring brand at its facility in Ripley for over 45 years; it is available in sheet, tile and plank format, and it has been installed in a wide range of commercial environments.

Corey Edwards, Forbo’s strategic project manager, said: “We have worked with the Merritts team on many occasions, as they have the facilities, equipment and skill sets to plan, manage, deliver and install machinery that is shipped to the UK from multiple countries.”