A WHARFEDALE steel company built up from nothing by a former farmer is doing its bit to help rebuild war-torn Kosovo.

Washburn Fabrications, a steel construction and welding company, provided more than 30 tonnes of steel to make aircraft landing system gantries for Pristina Airport as part of the emergency rebuilding programme in the troubled eastern European country.

It was a major coup the business, based at Riffa Business Park in Pool-in-Wharfedale, which has grown from a mobile welding service to a company able to design, manufacture and install any steel-based project anywhere in the world in just nine years.

Mr Adams was originally a farmer in Pool area until 1992 when he turned his hand to steel after sensing trouble times in the farming industry.

He said: "We were more than pleased to get the contract and it is good that we have been able to help the people of Kosova get a new

airport.

"It was a very tight programme because they needed to get it out there fast. Normally we would have had three months' notice but we had to get this out in three weeks. It was a huge undertaking in such a short period of time, but it is something we're particularly proud of, particularly given its nature."

And as a result of its efforts, Washburn has received an order for three further gantries for airports in Romania, meaning more work for the growing company.

Projects have included more than 80 climbing walls throughout Britain, with overseas efforts in Dubai, Hong Kong Norway and Spain amongst others. They are also working on a large gantry for Bristol Airport, architectural steelwork for a large office development in Reading and recently completed work at Leeds Bradford Airport.

"I put in a great deal of hard work and determination, which resulted in the company moving to its current site in 1995.

"These are exciting times for Washburn," Mr Adams added.

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