LOGISTICS firm AV Dawson is expanding its operations at Corus after winning a contract with the steel producer.

The Teesside company has been appointed to handle the scale-cleaning operations at the Special Profiles mill, in Skinningrove, which will help keep the 24-hour operation running smoothly.

As a result of the deal, 17 contractors have become AV Dawson employees. The company now employs 30 staff at the site.

AV Dawson managing director Gary Dawson said: "As the steel is rolled, hot scale is removed as it passes through the mill in order to ensure top-quality surface condition. That scale continually has to be collected and removed, otherwise it clogs up the system.

"The fact that we are still a family-run business is a major factor and has seen us win contracts in the past over major national and international companies."

AV Dawson has had a long relationship with Corus after starting as one of a number of hauliers moving steel products from the Skinningrove site.

In October 2004, it successfully tendered to become the sole domestic distributor of steel for the Skinningrove mill and had 22 trailers working at the site.

Corus has increased productivity during the intervening years, which has led to AV Dawson operating more than 70 trailers out of Skinningrove.

That success was followed by a contract win to take over all the shunting work at the plant.

Mr Dawson said: "Corus has no area for domestic distribution at Skinningrove where it can put the steel on the floor and pick it up for distribution. Everything that is made in the mill goes straight on to trailers which need shunting. We have made a number of safety improvements since winning this contract in August 2005."

AV Dawson has operated freight transport in Middlesbrough since 1938.

Facilities based on Teesside include rail freight terminals and port operations, including warehousing and a road transport fleet.