A GOOD-neighbour company has invested nearly £300,000 in equipment to improve emissions from its factory.

And Burnley-based Viktor Achter is now going to be used by environmental health officers at Burnley Council as a benchmark because it is the first in the country to install the equipment.

The company, part of American-based Milliken and Co, had received complaints from AMS Neve, a neighbouring business in Billington Road about a pale-blue fume from the chimney stack.

Working closely with the council's environmental protection team, it identified what caused the offensive emissions.

Together with a company in Switzerland, Viktor Achter spent six months designing and installing an air cleaning system.

The company manufactures fabric for vehicles and part of the process involves stabilising the fabric, which is done by washing and drying. During the drying process a small amount of mineral oil is burnt off, causing the fumes, although they were within discharge regulations.

The new equipment separates the oil from the emissions, providing clean air with the added bonus that the oil and the heat energy can both be recycled.

The company, which employs 411 at its site and has been in Burnley since 1989, invited AMS to view the equipment.

Viktor Achter director of manufacturing Geoff Farley said: "The new equipment exceeds all of the legislative requirements. There are similar systems in America but this is the first of its kind in the UK.

"We haven't had any complaints since the new equipment was introduced."

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