UNIVERSAL Salvage, the UK's largest vehicle salvage company, has reported a massive increase in full-year pre-tax profits. For the year to April 29 pre-tax profits reached £5.5 million (1999: £200,000) on slightly reduced turnover of £87.6 million (1999: £89.4 million).

The increase followed a renegotiation of contracts with motor insurers and an increase in the marketing of write-offs to auction audiences. And business is expected to further increase following the launch of the company's website, an extranet version of the company's salvage management system - StatUS - and the acquisition of spare parts locator business, Select Online Spares, subsequently renamed Universal Select.

Universal Salvage is planning to open six new UK reprocessing sites this year in the light of a European Union end-of-life directive which makes manufacturers responsible for scrapping costs of end-of-life vehicles. It has already opened a reprocessing plant in Corby with facilities to recycle nearly 100% of materials used in cars. The remaining five at Doncaster, Sandy, Sandwich, Chester and a site in Hampshire should be in place by the end of the year.

• To access the Universal Salvage site click on the Buyers' guide menu button (left) and go to the Miscellaneous section.