Manufacturer sees international sales soar
A North West manufacturer of transport safety components is in the fast lane thanks to growing international sales.
Business LInes, which is based in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, makes wheelnut safety indicators for the transport industry.
After working with the UK Trade and Investment agency for the last three years it has grown its international sales from 2% to 25% of its turnover.
The company now exports to more than 30 countries including Hong Kong, Oman, Dubai, Argentina, Chile, Columbia and South Africa where their products are manufactured under license and sold on to Australia and New Zealand.
Business Lines’ range of ‘Checkpoint’ products is already used by approximately 40% of commercial vehicles on the road in the UK – including fleet vehicles for major firms such as Tesco, British Telecom, Wincanton and Arriva, as well as the Ministry of Defence.
Managing director Mike Marczynski invented the distinctive bright yellow indicators in 1990. At the time he owned a waste company, and developed the idea after a tanker driver drove back from a job with a loose wheel, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to the vehicle.
The Checkpoint indicators fit over the hexagonal wheel nuts of vehicles in a distinctive pattern. Should a wheel nut become loose, the Checkpoint device will move with it, breaking the recognisable pattern and indicating that there is a problem.
The company previously had little experience of exporting, until joining UKTI’s Passport to Export scheme in 2007.
With staregic advice and financial assistance, international sales soon grew. After just 18 months they made up 10% of turnover.
Mr Marczynski said: “UKTI emphasised the need to market and sell our products overseas in a structured way, and stressed the importance of having good agents and distributors.
“They also helped us with the many aspects of overseas trade that can be difficult for inexperienced exporters, such as setting up distributor and legal agreements and advice on internationalising our website.”
