To many it's all gloom and doom again, but one man who always sees the glass half full rather than half empty is a self - assured Northern Irishman by the name of Gordon Forbes. Gordon heads up the dynamic Co. Tyrone -based Finrone Ltd , a supplier of pig housing and equipment, slurry stores and slurry equipment. Finrone has recently acquired Malton , N.Yorkshire -based Integrated Piggery Systems and has established a new base in Pickering, N. Yorkshire. This incidentally has coincided with Finrone celebrating 10 years in business.

Speaking about this recent expansion at an Open Day at the company's new Pickering site, M.D. Gordon Forbes commented "North Yorkshire is a obvious choice for Finrone's GB base. It's in the heart of one of the largest pig producing areas in GB and having a presence there gives us direct access to producers and enables us to provide a more efficient service. The new premises houses the GB sales force, a well equipped showroom demonstrating a range of options for pig producing units, a section of the updated Pyramid Craftmaster pig housing system plus a manufacturing base".

Mr Forbes continued" Setting up a base on the GB mainland is a mark of Finrone's commitment to the GB customer. We have enjoyed a high level of support from producers in GB and we want to be in a position where we can offer good after - sales service to this market. We are looking forward to rapid growth within this sector as we expand our product offering to the pig industry and into the dairy and beef sectors, with slurry stores and separator systems. Finrone will have erected 200 slurry stores by the end of 2007, many of these having a capacity of 450,000 litres ( 100,000 gall. The company is also marketing a rotary press slurry separator system. The benefit of this system is that it cuts the pollutant value of the slurry such that 50% less land is needed for spreading as compared to untreated slurry. On the buildings front, the Craftmaster system has been redesigned and a wean to finish building will soon be available, which is an

The new premises were officially opened by John Craven OBE, broadcaster and presenter of the long - running BBC TV's Countryfile programme, in front of a gathering of key industry personnel and well known producers from both sides of the Irish Sea. After unveiling a commemorative plaque Mr Craven said that he was well aware of the difficult times facing the pig industry. Mr Craven has a keen interest in environmental matters and was particularly impressed with the German Farmer Automatic's combined heat and power (CHP) system which can produce hot water and electricity from raw slurry.

Finrone's suppliers had travelled from Belgium, France ,Germany, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and from within the UK to put on an excellent wide ranging display of their latest products and equipment. Guests to the event had an opportunity to examine the equipment and discuss matters with the various company representatives who were in attendance.

The highlight of the day was a trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The train was pulled by a gleaming steam engine and guests enjoyed a sumptuous lunch whilst seated in traditional Pullman coaches, at the same time enjoying the beautiful North Yorkshire moors scenery.

Mr Forbes was overheard later saying that he was well "chuffed " with the whole event !