Harper Chalice targets growth after Olympic glory

A COVENTRY manufacturer is looking to build on its successes after helping to secure this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Harper Chalice Group was selected by Olympic organisers to supply its FenceSecure™ and PulseSecure™ electrified perimeter intrusion detection and deterrent products to the games’ venue in Stratford. The contract was worth more than £2m to the firm.

The systems provided the first line of defence against any security threats during the actual construction of the Olympic village and then continued to protect the 15,000 athletes and four million visitors to the events.

They were used for the duration of the two events and will remain in place to ensure the security of the site is maintained during all the post-games activity.

Graham Harper, managing director of the Harper Chalice Group, said: “This is a fantastic contract for us to be involved with and will provide a lasting legacy for our business that we will look to exploit going forward.

“We had to compete against domestic and international rivals to secure the orders, with both our FenceSecure™ and PulseSecure™ systems installed for independent trialling along with those from other major competitors.

“Needless to say we came out with the best results for both systems and this translated into ‘no reported breaches’ during the construction and the actual event itself.”

The contract enabled the firm to grow its workforce by a third but in addition, it has also led to renewed interest in the firm’s products at home and abroad.

The Olympic deal has been a real Midlands engineering affair, with Harper Chalice Group working with eight of its local supply chain and Wolverhampton-based Zaun Ltd, the latter supplying and installing the host security fences and gates.

Using its patented systems, the company supplied and commissioned nearly 900 detection zones to ensure perimeters were secure.

The firm, established in 1998, is now planning to invest in the research and development of its products to support new business.

It is also working in collaboration with the Manufacturing Advisory Service to devise new products.

“We are indebted to MAS for their assistance, from help with vendor selection in our early stages to providing vital technical assistance when we needed it most,” said Mr Harper.

Roy Pulley, of MAS, said: “We’ve seen first-hand how the Harper Chalice Group has evolved into a truly world leader and I’m delighted that Midlands engineering expertise and electronics knowledge has come to the fore to keep this Summer’s biggest sporting event safe.

“The firm’s perimeter fences have protected a host of other high profile venues, including military establishments, government assets, nuclear installations and even Royal Palaces.

“It is now seeing its work go overseas, with 45 accredited dealers in place across the world from Scandinavia to The Middle East, from India to Hong Kong and the Far East.”