THE Pendle town of Barrowford is the unlikely setting for one of Britain's fastest-growing transport operations.

Macgregor Europe specialises in logistics for the automotive industry and delivers parts and components to manufacturers throughout the world.

The business was launched less than ten years ago by Peter Macgregor, with just one Transit van and a single contract from the Lear Corporation, in Colne.

Today, Macgregor Europe has a fleet of 50 vehicles operating out of sites in Coventry, Birmingham, Coventry, Cologne in Germany and Prague in the Czech Republic.

The company has just moved its headquarters from Colne into its new logistics centre at the former Carrington Viyella site in Gisburn Road, Barrowford.

Peter remembers winning his first contract with the Lear Corporation back in 1994.

"I went in on price and the company gave me a chance," he recalled. Since then, he says, Macgregor Europe has traded on its reputation for innovation and reliability.

"The automotive industry is the largest in the world, but it is also very dynamic," he said.

"They are always keen to explore new systems and will always talk to people with new ideas. Even small companies get a hearing." Macgregor Europe has evolved into far more than a transport company. It provides a comprehensive range of logistics services, including warehousing, computerised stock control, air cargo, sea freight, sequencing, picking and packing.

As the automotive industry moves increasingly to 'outsourcing' in its quest for cost savings and manufacturing efficiency, the company is also providing a sequencing and sub-assembly service.

Peter expects the new 35,000 square feet logistics centre in Barrowford will create an initial 10 extra jobs and will help attract sub-assembly work to East Lancashire.

"There is a surprising amount of very able businesses within the area," he said. "I don't see why we cannot pull business into this corridor."

Macgregor Europe works with many of the big names in the automotive industry, including Peugeot, Nissan, Saab, Jaguar and Toyota.

It delivers components worldwide for key industry suppliers such as British Vita, Viktor Achters, Janesville Products, TRW Automotive, Futaba Tenneco Walker and Calligen Foam.

The company is now the leading logistics provider for French manufacturer Plastic Omnium in the UK and Northern France.

There is a daily evening cargo flight to Frankfurt, offering next-day morning deliveries to central and southern Germany, and a daily trailer to Charles de Gaulle Airport, which serves the Paris region.

The company also delivers a weekly 'milk round' service in Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic and regularly sends freight by sea to Turkey and Brazil.

Sales director is Frazer Durris who believes specialising in the automotive industry is the key to the company's success.

"Around 95 per cent of our work is directly linked to the automotive sector," he said. "We have almost 10 years' experience of the industry and have built up an excellent track record. We have never lost any of our big customers. Because we are a smaller company, we can deliver a level of service to our customers that larger firms will not provide."

All the company's fleet is being fitted with satellite navigation systems which will enable customers to track deliveries across Europe with pinpoint accuracy.

As the automotive industry moves further East, Peter is planning to make sure Macgregor Europe can take advantage of the opportunities. Later this year, the company is hoping to open a distribution centre in Bratislava and to have a representative office in China.