AEROSPACE and engines group Rolls-Royce is to sell its materials handling division Clarke Chapman.

The sale to Nottinghamshire-based engineering and construction group Langley Holdings is for an undisclosed sum.

Gateshead-based Clarke Chapman employs more than 400 people and supplies crane systems for a range of industries, including nuclear, ports, offshore platforms, steel producers and railways.

Langley chief executive Tony Langley said no job losses were envisaged as a result of the sale.

The business would be added to Langley's recently bought Ruston Bucyrus crawler crane business "to become the most significant player in the specialist handling field", he said.

The sale does not include Rolls-Royce's Clarke Chapman marine business, which supplies deck machinery and replenishment at sea systems.

Today's disposal follows Rolls-Royce's announcement in March that it planned to sell or close its various materials handlings businesses.

That process was "substantially concluded" by this sale, said the company.

Paul Heiden, Rolls-Royce finance director, said: "We are pleased to have reached a successful outcome to the sale process which now allows Rolls-Royce to increase the focus on its core business."

The combined sales and closures of the material handlings businesses would lead to £40m goodwill charge, one-off costs of £30m, and a trading loss of £6m, said the firm.