Firm’s ‘eco shutters’ win Middle East approval

A BRIERLEY HILL company that supplies a major port in the Middle East is celebrating its latest innovation with the launch of a new ‘eco’ range.

Insulated Roller Shutter Products  is tapping into support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service-West Midlands to market its Euroflexshutter door that promises to reduce customer energy costs by nearly £2,000 per year.

The company, which employs 15 people at its Old Bush Street factory, plans to demonstrate its green credentials by developing a downloadable ‘app’  that will calculate the performance of the product.

Available for the Iphone and the Blackberry, the technology will use a formula developed by technical director Jason Danks and quantified by environmental specialists ProEnviro. The firm is aiming for sales of more than £1m over the next 12 months.

IRSP’s MD Graham Danks said: “The ‘Euroflex’ range is an industry leader in terms of aesthetics, speed and, importantly, its environmental credentials.

“It has been designed in one section as opposed to two and features the EcoTech polyurethane foam infill that makes it lighter and improves thermal.”

He continued:  “We decided to access support from ProEnviro to build an ‘app’ that uses a formula to calculate exactly how much carbon is being saved and the financial advantages to the customer.”

IRSP is also hoping to uise MAS-WM support to help is achieve the ISO14001 ‘green’ accreditation.

 “We’ve received a lot of support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service since 2007, including lean manufacturing help and a strategic change project that resulted in a 50% improvement in productivity and a 20% reduction in waste,” said Jason Danks.

IRSP claims to offer the most comprehensive selection of roller shutter products in the world, and exports to more than 25 countries, with particularly strong growth in the Middle East.

Its presence there has led to an order to supply 600 shutters to a major port after a local Sheikh was impressed with the quality of the shutters used at Zayed University.

MAS-WM’s Martin McKeever said: “IRSP are a perfect role model for other UK businesses in how to use core strengths of design and manufacturing to take on and beat international rivals.”

Insulated Roller Shutter Products is recording sales of £2.2m for 2011 and is aiming to achieve  turnover of up to £3m for the first time in its 23-year history.