As the weather warms up across the UK thoughts are finally turning to summer. The season is a busy one for European company Ningbo as the cafe and restaurant trades look to buy new stock.

Ningbo’s cafe chairs and tables are very popular and the massive stock lines available mean there is something for every business.

Our market leading range includes stacking cafe chairs and bar stools. The Fleury Aluminium High Bar Stool is ideal for use in bars, bistros and some coffee shops. This stool can also be used inside and out. These in demand products are versatile and easy to clean down.

Ningbo has also taken delivery of a new chair which would be perfect for people in the catering industry who are on a budget. The shell chair is a plastic stacking chair which is smart yet extremely practical. This durable chair is also popular with schools, community centres and GP surgeries.

In addition, we have a full range of cafe tables to choose from. We sell aluminium and wooden tables in a selection of shapes and sizes to fit a large restaurant or bijou bistro.

Our customers have included the national takeaway chain Subway and hotels such as The Holiday Inn.

At Ningbo’s headquarters we’ve been discussing a ‘weighty’ issue.....Do we have strong trestle tables?

The answer is an emphatic YES and the proof is in the pudding!

Two members of staff, including Ningbo’s General Manager Bert Taylor threw caution to the wind and sat on the trestles to prove their strength.

After passing that test the temporary tables were loaded with 500kg or 78 stone and were still fully upright.

The 6ft trestle table is currently on sale at £32.00 + VAT.

A Ningbo sales executive has been accepted to ride in a charity race at Bangor Racecourse on Friday 3rd May.

Keen rider Katie Arthur will compete in the Race for Repeal for Countryside Alliance. The organisation supports hunting, shooting and outdoor activities.

Katie said she is keen to take part in the one mile ride around the course.

“I ride every day and I have point-to-pointers of my own and eventers. I also ride racehorses at the weekend,” she said.

Katie needs to raise £500 to take part in the event. Anyone interested in sponsoring her can do so at Race for Repeal for Countryside Alliance.

Ningbo sponsored freelance jockey Adrian Lane is celebrating after he won the 5pm at Kelso.

He was first past the post on Pudsey House in the BG Quick Handicap Hurdle race.

The race on Monday 8th April was a 16-1 winner for trainer John Wade and Adrian’s first ride for this trainer.

Adrian came to the UK in November 2008 after he rode many winners in Ireland.

Ningbo’s Managing Director Chris Stockton said he was “delighted” for Adrian.

The Ningbo Spoon backed steel stacking chair have again been passed by our own UK independent testing lab, and they passed with flying colours for the high standard Crib 5 fire retardency test. We periodically test each chair in all of the ranges for fire retardency. This is ontop of the fabric manufacturers own testing certificate which the fabric is delivered with.

Ningbo Managing Director Chris Stockton said " These are the Rolls Royce of Chairs, in this sector. The foam, fabric, steel, and the finish is a superb quality. We independently test the quality of our products as a second check on our suppliers warranties. It is a costly " Belt and Braces " approach, but it is something we take very seriously, and pride ourselves on"

A test rig is constructed in order to simulate a chair with the fabric to be tested. This rig is subjected to different ignition sources.

There are 8 types of ignition sources, each with different heat intensity. They are classified from 1 to 8, the intensity doubling compared to the preceding source. The most frequently used are ignition source 0, 1 and 5.

The tests include a smouldering cigarette and a simulated match.

The Source 5 test consists of a crib composed of wooden planks glued together. Lint is attached to the bottom. After adding propane-diol the crib is placed on the test rig and ignited with a match. If no flaming or progressive smouldering is observed on both cover and interior material, the test is recorded as no ignition and the material passes the test.

If chairs are being purchased to be used in public places such as hotels, hospitals and casinos they must have Crib 5 by law.