A Keighley foundry's efforts to stamp out pollution have been rewarded.

Triplex has received a national industry award - BS EN ISO 14001 accreditation, a high environmental management standard.

The award was presented by Keighley MP Ann Cryer when she visited the Dalton Lane company .

Triplex is one of the first Keighley firms to achieve such quality approval, and in doing so has committed itself to making further improvements in its overall environmental performance.

Chris Mintern, managing director of Triplex, says: "This achievement is a direct result of openly communicating the company's objectives and everyone working together as a team to ensure they are met. Congratulations are in order to all concerned."

Bradford council is delighted with the upgrading work carried out at the foundry following years of close liaison with the firm to improve the overall environmental record.

The removal of pollution, including grit, dust and fumes, from the site has created a better atmosphere for local residents and staff at the foundry and put the firm on an environmental par with its European counterparts.

Triplex, which has manufactured grey iron castings since 1911, installed a state-of-the-art filter plant to treat polluting emissions from the knock-outs - the area in the foundry where hot castings are released from moulds.

This latest investment has completed pollution upgrading works specified by the council to bring it in line with the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Cllr Martin Leathley, deputy chairman of Bradford council's public health and protection sub-committee, says: "The improvements to the local environment as a result of this upgrading work are quite remarkable.

"These improvements would not have happened without the hard work of all concerned working on a partnership approach to the problem."

The whole process of upgrading at the foundry began in 1993 when Triplex was required to improve pollution control to comply with new legislation. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 introduced a new system of air pollution control which required operators of various industrial processes to apply to local authorities for authorisation to operate - there are 27 such businesses in Keighley.

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