As Export Week gets underway, a Bridgend company specialising in designing and manufacturing slings and hoists for moving and handling patients is celebrating winning its first export orders from Australia and Spain.
Mackworth Healthcare’s latest round of export success in Australia and Spain was co-ordinated with its overseas partners Aidacare and Ayudus Diminicas respectively.
The orders range between 500 & 1000 units per month in each country, covering its entire range of slings and handling devices. It has also already received repeat orders into 2015.
As a result of these sales, the company – which was only acquired by MD Neil Smith and General Manager Lee Reeves in November 2012 – has seen exports increase from 5% of turnover to 25%. Mackworth is already exporting to Ireland, Italy, France and USA.
Announcing the news during Export Week Lee said “It is very unusual to achieve such high volumes with initial orders but having inspected our facilities, Aidacare had a positive picture of what our Welsh manufacturing capabilities truly are.
“We are absolutely delighted with this progress. Australia is a huge emerging market for us and with great potential due to its new and wealthy status. It’s one we really wanted to crack this year, so its great news as our very own products are now physically “en- route” to Australia, in volume and with repeat orders to follow.
“Exports can make a huge difference to the success of a business and we now plan to launch an aggressive export campaign in 2015 with the aim of moving more into the USA and the Nordic areas, which are leading markets for the ‘moving and handling’ sector.
“Overseas sales can give companies a higher margin on products in a lot of instances, but also open up potentially new and larger markets for future projects. I certainly endorse the Welsh Government’s campaign to help and encourage businesses to export and trade internationally. There are obvious challenges to be faced but expert help and advice is available.”
Economy Minister Edwina Hart who officially opened Mackworth’s new headquarters and manufacturing facility earlier this year, congratulated the company on its export successes.
The Minister said;” This news is very timely as Export Week gets under way and a it is a great advertisement of what can be achieved. It illustrates the very real opportunities out there and I hope many more companies will follow their lead.
“Businesses can find our more about trading internationally at the Explore Export event on Friday which provides information on the various global markets, the opportunities they present, as well as the raft of help and support available from the Welsh Government and UKTI.”
Export Week comes ahead of the UK Investment Summit Wales 2014 ( 20-21 November at Newport’s Celtic Manor) supported by the UK and Welsh Governments, which brings together more than 250 global investors, business leaders and ministers. It will also be a global showcase for Welsh innovation and skills with a number of products and technologies developed in Wales taking centre stage at the exhibition which runs alongside the conference.