A STEEL company that has grown to become one of the top 10 in the UK has been presented with three certificates in one day.

REIDsteel of Christchurch has a 95-year history and ships to more than 140 countries.

It has built aircraft hangars suitable for use in the minus 40 degree temperatures of Montolia and built bridges in flood-prone regions of Nepal.

It built Aston Villa’s Holte End grandstand, security gates for the London Olympics and hangars at Bournemouth Airport.

The company designs, fabricates and erects steel structures complete with glazing and doors.

In 2013 – a year that saw a number of construction companies downscaling or disappearing – the company was working to achieve its ISO 9001 quality management certificate, together with its factory production control and welding management certificate to execution class four – the highest achievable level.

The latter award enables the firm to CE mark the buildings it produces – a legal requirement from July 1 this year.

Denver Woodward, chairman of the Steel Construction Certification Scheme (SCCS), visited the company’s five-acre site to present the official certification to directors Tim Reid and Simon Boyd and production manager Andy Davies.

Mr Davies said: “To be audited for all three certifications within a week of each other was a challenge to say the least.

“This is an excellent achievement and only made possible because of the commitment and support of all the staff.”

A tour of the workshops highlighted the diversity of REIDsteel’s product range, from apartment blocks for Nigeria to a religious cross for a shrine in Mauritius.

Mr Woodward said: “I was impressed by the wide range of fabricated steel products REIDsteel produce and that they manufacture all the components for complete buildings including the windows and doors.

“The team spirit and commitment to quality and safety is evident in all the departments and it is clear from the large number of long term employees that the company provides good employment conditions and has maintained stability in the very volatile construction market.

“The development of new products such as security barriers is a good example of how the company is looking for new products and opportunities to maintain their high profile in the steel fabrication industry.”