Manufacturer on target for £15m exports
A Coventry manufacturer says it is on target to hit £15m in overseas sales this year, with one of the biggest areas for growth being the supply of copper tubing that runs through hospitals to deliver oxygen to patients’ beds
Lawton Tubes, which employs around 100 staff from its base in Torrington Avenue and was handed the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its growth in international trade, only began exporting seven years ago.
It has been working with the team at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade Hub to expand its markets.
Lawton Tubes – which makes copper piping for a range of sectors, from plumbing to healthcare – grew export sales to £6m in 2014 and is set to more than double that this year.
The company’s products are now in 35 countries across the world and its efforts are supported by the Chamber’s international documentation service.
Lawton, which was 100 years old in 2018, is looking to grow those markets even further on the back of winning the Queen’s Award.
Business development director Robert Lawton said: “When I posted on social media that we had won the Queen’s Award, I had feedback from all 35 countries that our products are in.
“Many of our customers wanted to know when they would be receiving products with the Queen’s emblem on them so it just shows how highly regarded this award is.
“We are very proud to have been given this honour, which is one of the highest accolades a British company can receive.
“And we are grateful to the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce for recommending that we go for this award and for the support they give to us when it comes to exporting.
“The company is on target to reach £15m in exports this year and hopefully the Queen’s Award will help us to achieve even more in the future.”
Ajay Desai, international trade director at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted for Lawton Tubes and this award is very much deserved.
“The Queen’s Award and everything that comes with it is held in very high esteem all over the world and is seen as a mark of quality and integrity for any business.”
Lord-Lieutenant John Crabtree OBE said: “This is such an important aspect of my role, visiting companies such as Lawton Tubes who are doing such great things all over the world, and encouraging other companies in our region to seek this most special award which will open closed doors to UK businesses.”
