TRANPORT seating maker Transcal has taken over an English engineering and fabrication firm to boost its rail division.

Livingston based Transcal paid an undisclosed sum to snap up Winstanley Holdings in Pershore, Worcester.

However the Scottish business believes the move will more than double revenue at its rail division from £5.5 million to £11.5m.

Transcal, which employs 97 people, said the deal also expands its capabilities in the defence industry.

As a result it expects turnover across the group to grow to more than £27m next year, from the current £14.5m.

The 84 staff employed by Winstanley are all being retained.

Outgoing major shareholder Rod Smith, who is retiring, said: "The Transcal acquisition makes great strategic sense for the two businesses. I am delighted for Winstanley to join the Transcal group of companies.

"Our joint strengths make a most compelling offer to rail and defence sector customers. This investment is good news for the future of Winstanley and its skilled workforce."

Transcal also has operations in aviation, automotive and furniture with sites in Bristol, Singapore, Indonesia, Poland, and Belgium.

Robert Aitken, founder and managing director, said: "This is an important deal both for Transcal Rail and for our new colleagues at Winstanley. It puts us in a leading position to grow the enlarged group through a pipeline of rail franchise refurbishment across the UK etwork.

"In the past year we have worked closely with Winstanley on a number of projects, and we learned that both companies share a similar ethos on quality, design innovation and attention to detail. This gives us a sound basis for the business combination."

In rail Transcal has worked for the likes of First Great Western and East Midlands Trains in recent years.