In brief: EMSc; VC Electronics; Nabarro; Poundworld

ENERGY savings products manufacturer EMSc (UK) – which has Asda and the Whitbread Group among its clients – has established a new Melbourne office in its Australian based subsidiary EMSc (Australia).

The business, which is headquartered in Sheffield, has seen growing demand for its market-leading Powerstar voltage optimisation system in Australia.

Paul North, international business development manager for the EMSc Group, said: “In Australia we boast well-known companies including Coles Supermarkets, Coles Express, numerous councils and many other small and large power users amongst our client base.

“To continue developing market opportunities in the region we are keen to formalise relationships with local consultants, distributors and installation partners.”

EMSc (UK) has also announced a new distribution agreement with 67rockwell, in Germany.

A well-known distributor of technology products, with a strong market presence and customer base throughout the region, 67rockwell will be distributing Powerstar voltage optimisation systems in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

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THE director of a Yorkshire electronics firm which is taking on more staff says the industry is showing signs of “green shoots.”

Pat Cummins, managing director of VC Electronics, which manufactures circuit boards for anything from cars and boats to street lights and tracking devices, predicts turnover will more than double this year.

The company is in the process of merging with a former rival firm and has taken on 10 of its staff, as well as a further five people at its factory in Goldthorpe near Barnsley, bringing the total number of employees to 33.

There are plans to recruit another five in the next six months.

Turnover at the company, which is backed by business support organisation Enterprising Barnsley, is predicted to rise from £1.07m last year to £2.7m this year, based on firm orders and expected repeat business. This is in part due to the merger, said Mr Cummins but mainly as a result of new business.

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BUDGET Yorkshire retailer Poundworld has reached a turnover of more than £2m for its wholesale division.

The division, Discount Wholesale, has worked with eCommerce specialist, PureNet, based in York, over the past 12 months to establish and continually grow the brand on its site www.discount-wholesale.co.uk

Discount Wholesale’s eCommerce manager, Helen Todd, said: “PureNet combines great strategic thinking and creativity, which has helped us increase our online profile and establish the Discount Wholesale brand.”

Poundworld started out on a Wakefield market stall in 1974.