AN EAST Lancashire engineering firm has cemented its position by snapping up a bundle of intellectual property rights, designs and drawings.

Wheelbase Engineering, off Lower Eccleshill Road, Darwen, has consolidated one of its own niche business areas by buying the intellectual property rights, designs, drawings and production jigs for the former Ray Smith Group's demountable equipment.

The purchase of these rights from the administrator Baker Tilly, follows the demise of the Peterborough-based Ray Smith group three-months-ago.

Wheelbase specialises in chassis modifications and manufactures a wide range of trailer chassis for specialist bodybuilders to add to.

Examples include fork lift and plant carriers, bike race team trailers and boat carriers.

Wheelbase managing director, Simon Pickles, said full engineering drawings, customer specification and manufacturing jigs were necessary to ensure full compatibility with existing contact and straight lift systems.

Mr Pickles said: "We realise that there may be former customers looking for new demount and tail lift equipment previously built by RSG.

"With this acquisition, we can replicate any existing demount installation, tail lift and swap body equipment package, previously made and supplied by RSG".