Tong Engineering, a UK-based designer and manufacturer of quality handling equipment for the vegetable and recycling industries, announces the appointment of Ian Hodgson to the newly created role of commercial manager.
The new role has been developed as part of Tong’s ongoing commitment to maximizing its capabilities within the UK and its export markets. This new appointment brings commercial support to the company’s existing sales division to further strengthen and develop sales potential, as demand for the company’s handling equipment continues to increase.
“Ian joins the Tong sales division internally from his previous role within the company as senior buyer,” says managing director Edward Tong. “He will be working closely with the sales team to offer support—particularly on larger, turnkey projects—ensuring commercial structure throughout the sales process and helping enhance customer relations throughout. Ian’s existing experience with our wide range of equipment, alongside his commercial and technical expertise, will complement our current sales capabilities and help us embrace new opportunities within the market as the business continues to grow in line with customer demand.”
Since joining Tong Engineering in 2011, Hodgson has worked with some of the world’s leading suppliers and manufacturers to source high-quality and innovative engineering components, from SEW Eurodrive motors to NSK bearings and PPG global paint. His experience in the field brings invaluable expertise to his new, particularly his past involvement in the specification of equipment in Tong’s turnkey vegetable handling solutions.
“Having started my career in the vegetable handling industry with several roles at Peal Engineering, returning to Tong Engineering in 2011 seemed like a natural next step for me,” says Hodgson. “I’m looking forward to my new role as commercial manager, working alongside the sales team to achieve the company’s ongoing commercial strategy while meeting our customers’ requirements and expectations on time and within budget.”