PM Group plc has acquired 75 per cent of a Belgian business.

The Bradford business, which designs and manufactures weighing systems for the bulk haulage and waste management industries, paid more than £200,000 in the deal for Waste Collection Systems Belgium.

PM Group, which reported an operating profits increase of 99 per cent in its maiden results as a public company last September, has also announced that it will further expand its European operations with a proposed acquisition in Holland.

The firm has entered into talks to acquire 75 per cent of shares from Waste Collection Systems Holland (WCSH). The deal is expected to be finalised in the next three months.

Waste Collection Systems Belgium (WCSB), which recently won a £5m contract to supply Western Belgian Intercommunale with bins, identification tags and weighing systems, will help PM's strategy of "increasing penetration into the waste management sector in mainland Europe".

WCSB, which is based in Zaventem, was founded in 1995, while WCSH, which is based in Wouw, was founded in 1992.

The firm's provide waste management services, including refuse bins, identification tags and weighing systems to a variety of clients including local authorities.

For the year ending December 2001 WCSB reported a pre-tax profit of £100,000 on turnover of £2.75 million, while WCSH reported a pre-tax profit of £2,000 on turnover of £1.8 million.

The firms employ 12 people.

Geoff Mountain, PM's chief executive, said: "We are delighted with the operational strength this acquisition will bring to the group and the acceleration of both our product offerings and expansion within Europe.

"Following the relocation of our UK operations to larger premises, scheduled towards the end of this month, we look forward to updating you on our progress when we announce our interim results in March."

PM, which employs 80 people, has invested £3 million in new headquarters in Shipley.

The firm, which is currently based at Canal Road, hopes the move will double business.

The firm's admission to the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) last year raised £3.9m, £900,000 more than was expected.