Wednesday 13:59
Exporting becomes a reality for Bedfordshire company
Thanks to help from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), Bedfordshire family business Harmill Systems Ltd has been awarded its first overseas contract - worth £300,000 - to supply eight 'Underframe Inspection Vehicles' and associated track to the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC), the company building Taiwan's new High Speed Rail link.
Harmill, whose UK clients include London Transport, was established in 1990 by engineer Patrick 'Pat' Hughes and employs 14 people at its Leighton Buzzard production facility. It provides highly innovative bespoke engineering solutions, principally to the railway industry.
Trains require frequent inspection and this is carried out by inspectors working in workshop 'pits' underneath each train, rather like car inspection 'pits' found in garage workshops. However, in Taiwan there are eight inspection pits for the new High Speed Rail (HSR) trains and each pit is 320 metres long! Traditionally conditions in the pits for inspectors and engineers have been cramped, uncomfortable and potentially unsafe.
The Underframe Inspection Vehicles designed by Harmill are electrically driven, running on their own tracks to and fro in the pits, providing safe, comfortable and ergonomic mobility for under-train workers. They have rechargeable 24v batteries, lights, tool storage and a rotating and tilting seat.
The contract was signed on 6th February 2006 and THSRC has already expressed interest in Harmill quoting for up to seven other engineering projects.
As a 'New to Export' company, Harmill sought advice and help from Martin Keepfer, International Trade Advisor for East of England International - Bedfordshire and Luton.
Harmill received UKTI funding to support a market visit last December to THSRC in Taiwan and a further £4000 of matched UKTI funding has been made available to Harmill to develop further international trade opportunities under the UKTI flagship 'Passport' programme.
Pat Hughes, Harmill managing director said "This is my first foray into the world of exports. It was a technically complex contract to win, not just in terms of export documentation and invoicing, but the language, cultural and legal differences between our two distant countries.
"With the expert help of UKTI - both Martin's 'mentoring' at ground level and the professionalism of the knowledgeable staff at the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei - exporting has simply become a reality. I would recommend anyone thinking of exporting for the first time, or wishing to grow their exports, to contact their local UKTI International Trade Adviser - I'm glad I did."
UKTI works closely with commercial teams based in the UK's worldwide network of Embassies, Consulates and Trade Offices. Pat received invaluable help in Taiwan - not least with language and complex local contractual issues - from Annie Yi and the team at the British Trade and Cultural Office in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei.
Martin Keepfer said: "It has been a pleasure to be associated with and to help Harmill Systems to win this prestigious first export order. At UK Trade and Investment, both at home and overseas, we have a wide range of services, practical help, and often funding, to offer to small and medium sized businesses thinking of developing internationally.
"The journey for Harmill doesn't stop here though, I am confident that, with Pat's innovative engineering team, and ongoing help from our UKTI 'Passport to Export' and other programmes, this will be the first of many stops on a long and successful exporting track."
Notes to editors
1. The final contract signing took place in London on 6th February 2006. Picture attached and available from Liz Trott at GNN East Tel 01223 372787.
Picture caption: from left to right: Martin Keepfer, International Trade Adviser (UKTI/East of England International), Pat Hughes (Harmill Systems Ltd), Mr K H Lee, Executive Vice President (THSRC) and Andrew Robinson (Notary Public).
A CAD drawing of the Undeframe Inspection Vehicle is also available. More information on Harmill Systems Ltd can be found at http://www.harmill.co.uk
2. The Taiwan HSR project is one of the world's largest railway infrastructure projects ever undertaken, at a cost of $16 billion USD. Travelling on exclusive tracks, free of level crossings, HSR promises its passengers a safe and comfortable express service. The completely new line runs approximately 345km from Taipei to Kaohsiung, connecting the North and South of Taiwan, passing 14 major cities and 77 townships and regions en-route.
After commissioning, the Taiwan HSR System is expected to reach speeds of up to 300 kph (186 mph) shortening the north-south journey time from 5 hours to less than 90 minutes. An incredible engineering feat in mountainous territory with some 250km of the line built high up on 'viaducts' and around 40km underground in tunnels. Full details and pictures can be found at http://www.thsrc.com.tw
3. UK Trade & Investment is the government organisation that provides integrated support services for UK companies engaged in overseas trade and foreign businesses focused on the UK as an inward investment location. It brings together the work of teams in British embassies and FCO posts overseas and government departments across Whitehall. In England, international trade support is coordinated by nine International Trade Directors working in partnership with each Regional Development Agency. For more information visit the web site http://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk
4. UK Trade & Investment services are delivered in the East of England through a network of dedicated International Trade Teams at East of England International. Visit the regional websites: http://www.exporteastofengland.org.uk or http://www.eeia.com contact your local International Trade Team for further details:
Bedfordshire & Luton: 01582 522448 Cambridgeshire: 0845 6097979 Essex: 01245 241460 Hertfordshire: 01727 813447 Norfolk: 08457 218218 Suffolk: 01473 694816
Issued on behalf of UK Trade & Investment by Government News Network East
Client ref Export
