VAI Industries has won an £8m contract to revamp a steel plant in China.

The contract is the first Chinese contract to be won by the Stockton company's Continuos Casting division.

VAI will supply advanced technologies for the Meishan Co, in Shanghai.

All the engineering work for the project will be carried out by VAI in Stockton, but will also involve staff at its Sheffield offices.

VAI will also be responsible for the theoretical and practical training of Meishan personnel, advisory services during erection and commissioning and performance testing.

Staff from the UK will travel to China to provide the service to Chinese engineers working on the project.

Work is due to start in October, and is scheduled for completion by the first quarter of 2003.

VAI Stockton managing director Robin Millman said: "We are delighted to have won this contract, which is the first in China for VAI UK's Continuous Casting Division.