AN engineering support services group, which operates two subsidiaries in the North-East, yesterday announced an £11.9m acquisition.

Redhall Group plc, which operates Steels Engineering Services, in Billingham, near Stockton, and Steels Engineering Design, in Gateshead, has bought Jex Engineering.

Jex carries out the design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of production equipment, to customers within the food, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors.

The business employs more than 200 staff and operates from facilities in Grimsby, Manchester and Birmingham.

Redhall recently unveiled a 59 per cent increase in turnover to £22.3m for the six months to March 31, while operating profit rose by 336 per cent to £886,000.