Over recent years the ression has bitten deeply into industry in South Yorkshire. A large number of long established companies bit the dust as markets shrank and profit margins dwindled alarmingly. Only the strongest, most efficient firms have survived - one of these is Francis Chambers and Co Ltd.

We are electrical engineers based at Parkgate, Rotherham and this year celebrates 53 years of successful trading with order books healthy enough to keep staff busy well into 2011.

Managing director, Gavin Twynham, is optimistic about the future and confident that the business will continue to flourish and to expand steadily as it has done since 1947. That was the year that Francis Chambers and Co Ltd was established by Mr Francis Chambers - formerly of Newton Chambers of Chapeltown. He set up in premises up a back yard off Albert Road, Parkgate and began rewinding motors for Smithywood Coke Ovens.

He was later joined by Leslie Woolhouse. Neil Twynham [Gavin's father] joined the staff as an apprentice armature winder in 1960 and two years later the company moved to their existing premises in Taylors Lane where they were surrounded by local industry including the NCB, South Yorkshire Coke and Chemical and British Steel

Gradually neighbouring firms closed down but Francis Chambers prospered

When Francis Chambers died in 1977, Neil became a partner and two years later became managing director. His son, Gavin, joined the company in 1988 and like his father worked his way up. Unfortunately, Neil died in 2009 and Gavin became managing director of the company.

Today the company employs seven staff as well as repairing and servicing everything from small power tools to 700kw industrial motors. Staff deal with on-site repairs and fault finding.

Since 1970, we have been selling electric motors all over the country and have the largest stock of ABB motors in South Yorkshire, ranging from .09kw up to 315kw off the shelf. The company also stocks a large range of replacement motors for air conditioning and heating systems. Pumps, fans, transformers and control gear are also stocked

The company policy is to offer personal family service as well as reliability and top quality workmanship whether dealing with a small or large job and it has paid dividends because the company has never had to introduce short time working and continues to go from strength to strength.