Meltech benefits from Brazil boom
A SPECIALIST engineering firm in Blackburn has won significant orders in Brazil for it high specification equipment for the offshore industry.
Meltech Engineering, which has around 40 staff and exports to over 20 overseas markets, designs and makes winding, coiling and extrusion equipment for cable, wire, metal and plastics industries worldwide.
Over the last five years demand has also grown for continuous rotary extrusion (CRE) systems, which enable the production of high quality copper, aluminium and alloys.
Sales and marketing director Peter Drever said: “Meltech has always been an exporting business, but during the 1990s less than 25% of our sales were overseas. Today export turnover accounts for at least half of our overall business, and we are increasingly looking overseas for high value opportunities.
“Brazil is a rapidly growing market for us – there is a lot of oil and gas infrastructure there, and huge expansion is planned. Last year our CRE business secured a large order in Brazil, and this year our engineering business has won another order for equipment for the offshore industry worth £500,000.
“We have been working with [Government export body] UK Trade & Investment to make the most of opportunities in South America, and they have been terrific in terms of advice and knowledge of local requirements.”
Paul Eadie, UKTI North West Latin American market advisor said: “Brazil is now the world’s sixth largest economy, and offers great trade potential for North West companies in a range of sectors – advanced engineering, healthcare, oil and gas, and the creative industries.
“North West exports to Brazil are now rising rapidly, with figures for the first quarter of this year up 4% on the same period in 2011 to £44m. Companies such as Meltech are well positioned to succeed in the market, as they have invested time and expertise in research, design and technology to enable them to provide specialist engineering solutions which are fit for purpose.”
