Speedy snowplough popular as councils feel chill of cuts

Econ, which has 170 staff at its Ripon base, won the deals after designing a faster snow plough.

The largest contract, worth 450,000, was with Surrey County Council, with the authority taking 17 of the E-ploughs, which work at speeds of up to 30mph.

Econ, a 20m turnover firm, has sold 100 of the 5,000 E-Ploughs since they were launched in September.

Andrew Lupton, sales director, said: "We have been working on the new design for a couple of years, as the previous technology was developed in the 1980s when vehicles were much less powerful and stable at speeds, and they just weren't up to the job.

"The new blades move more snow in a more controlled way, and allow safer operation at higher speeds, and sales of the ploughs are well in excess of our expectations."

Econ said it had seen an increase in orders for leased vehicles this year, as authorities seek to cut their capital spending and source equipment from within Britain.

Mr Lupton added: "The drive to operate gritting and ploughing fleets more efficiently has benefitted us and our UK manufacturing base is an advantage for us over foreign competitors.

"With salt shortages and last year's harsh winter, the investments we have made into research and development work into salt and ploughing efficiencies over the past few years is bearing fruit at a crucial time for public budget."

Econ vehicles are used by councils in Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees, Rotherham, York and Doncaster.