A CLEANING compound manufactured by a Cross Hills company is the toast of the brewing industry.

The so-called peracetic acid (PAA), produced by Airedale Chemical, is proving increasingly popular for its heavy-duty properties.

"We've purchased peracetic acid from Airedale Chemical for over three years," said Chris Cleal, of Murphy & Son, which supplies products to the brewery trade.

"It's extremely popular with both large and micro-breweries across the UK, due to its high cleaning qualities.

"It is one of the most potent micro-biocidal cleaning chemicals available and acts against organisms including aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, moulds and other fungi which appear during the brewing process.

"The product is ideal as it's fast acting, doesn't foam, requires minimal rinsing and is non-polluting."

Chris Chadwick – sales director at Airedale Chemical, based in Skipton Road – said the firm had just invested £500,000 in three new distribution vehicles, two of which are purpose built to safely transport chemicals such as PAA.

"We believe this additional resource will enable us to continue strengthening our relationship with clients such as Murphy & Son," he added.