ATG Access expects bumper year after export success

ATG Access, the Haydock-based designer and manufacturer of vehicle barrier technology, has secured a major contract to supply high security equipment to PetroChina, China’s largest oil producer.

The deal is the largest contract to date in China for the £10m turnover Haydock-based business, which received investment from LDC in February 2013.

The firm brought a record order book of £3.5m into FY16 and has current backlog of £4.1m, so expects to see a large increase in revenue in FY16 and on track to deliver a record year – targeting revenues of more than £17m. Its current export pipeline is £57m.

ATG Access now exports to more than 40 countries and export sales account for over 60% of revenues. The business’ products are in increasing demand around the world as corporates and governments look to protect critical national infrastructure from accidental vehicular impact and intentional terrorist attacks.  Its products have veen installed at Canary Whard and Horseguards Parade in London.

Further afield it has installed a number of systems the Middle and Far East, including the Mecca and Jeddah Railway stations and Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia, the Heart of Doha project in Qatar, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters, Changi Airport, Singapore.

Mark Clegg, managing director at ATG Access, said: “We have been operating in China for some time to educate its security professionals on the importance and capabilities of vehicle barrier technology. Winning this contract is testament to the relationships we have built and will hopefully be the start of more business in the country.

“While Asian markets offer a great deal of potential, security spending in the Middle East is rising rapidly and will continue to be the main force behind our exports. We now have project managers based in Singapore and UAE that are helping us to understand their needs and bring new and innovate products to these markets.”

Ged Gould, director and co-head of LDC in the North West, said: “Mark and the team have made great strides in international markets and have well and truly flown the flag for ambitious British manufacturing businesses abroad. For the UK to meet its general export target by 2020, we need to support more companies like ATG Access and provide the capital and managerial support to make those dreams a reality.”