Avery Weigh-Tronix, the West-Midlands based manufacturer of industrial scales and weighing equipment, has announced its intention to sell its food retail weighing business, Avery Berkel, in order to focus solely on its core industrial customer base.

The announcement was made as the company has recently unveiled several new products and solutions for industry, including the development of new on board weighing technology using digital load cells and new software solutions.

Avery Weigh-Tronix CEO Jerry Bowe said "The decision to sell retail was not easy, but it is in the best interests of both the retail and industrial parts of the company. It allows Avery Weigh-Tronix to focus on manufacturing, selling and servicing weighing technology for our key customers.

"These companies often face tough markets and must implement continuous improvement and cost reduction programmes, allied to investment in innovation and new, more efficient operating systems. Typically they need to scrutinise their yields, throughput rates, wastage, remedial work, downtime and maintenance costs over a period of time.

"We have always worked in partnership with our industrial customers, but now we can now focus solely on their needs and gear our research and development to helping them become more efficient. Working with us they are dealing with a multinational organisation that can invest in developing the best and most appropriate technology.

"Also we have the resource to provide fast and effective service and maintenance, with a team of over 260 technicians in the UK. In short we have international resource, but deliver our solutions and back up service locally."

"Our products, software and service support help our customers to be more productive and profitable. Now, more than ever our employees can focus on providing the best technology, the most reliable products and the most complete customer service in the industry."

Avery Weigh-Tronix has a UK base in Smethwick, with major manufacturing facilities in Fairmont, Minnesota USA, Montreal, Quebec, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Ballarbgarth, India and Suzhou, China.