Export Success

BEDFORD COMPANY SECURES CONTRACT TO TEST WHEEL NUT LOCKING DEVICE ON CANADIAN BUSES AND TRUCKS

Bedford based company Wheelsure, after using UK Trade & Investment’s services, have secured a contract with a Canadian company, Robert Transport,
to test their wheel nut locking device for three months. Wheelsure, through UK Trade & Investment’s Passport to Export programme was able to visit the USA, Canada and Hong Kong last year to raise awareness of their award-winning wheel nut locking device.

Gerhard Dodl, Managing Director at Wheelsure Limited said:
“We are delighted with the assistance that we have received from UK Trade & Investment. Wheel loss is a cause for major concern all over the world and this scheme has given us the opportunity to showcase our product in markets that we would otherwise not have had access to. We are confident that the trial at Robert Transport will be successful and hopeful that it will lead to our first Canadian order.”

Anton Rudgalvis, International Trade Adviser with UK Trade & Investment, said:
“UK Trade & Investment is delighted to have helped Wheelsure get their foot in the door with potential customers which has resulted in a contract to trial their innovative safety device in Canada. They have used a number of our services including advice from the sector specialist, trade adviser and British Consulate in Hong Kong as well as being an ideal candidate for the Passport to Export Scheme. They have made strong contacts in the USA, Canada and Hong Kong and I look forward to seeing them reap the benefits.”

Wheelsure signed up to UK Trade & Investment’s Passport to Export programme in November 2003 which helped them research overseas markets and visit companies to promote their safety product.

Passport to Export provides new and inexperienced exporters with the training, planning and ongoing support they need to succeed overseas through an assessment and skills based programme.

The wheel nut locking device which has recently won Brake’s Vehicle Safety Invention Award, uses a modified wheel stud and counter-threaded locking cap that covers the wheel nut, holding it in place. In the event of the wheel nut starting to loosen, the left hand threaded locking cap immediately tightens against the nut, ensuring that it will not come off.

Notes to editor

1. Anton Rudgalvis from UK Trade & Investment and Gerhard Dodl from Wheelsure are available for interview. Please contact Karen Dowle at GNN on 01223 372791.

2. 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. UK Trade & Investment services are delivered locally through a network of International Trade Teams typically located in Business Link operators or Chambers of Commerce. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements for local delivery of services. For more information visit the web site www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk

3. UK Trade & Investment services in the East of England are available to companies through the network of dedicated International Trade Teams and regional Sector Specialists located in Business Link organisations or Chambers. For further information contact your local International Trade Team or visit: www.exporteastofengland.org.uk:

Business Link for Bedfordshire & Luton: 01582 522 448
Business Link for Cambridgeshire: 01480 846 414
Business Link for Essex: 01245 241 460
Business Link Hertfordshire: 01727 813 813
Business Link for Norfolk: 08457 218 218
Business Link Suffolk: 01473 694 816

There are nine regional Sector Specialists who work alongside the International Trade Teams and are specialists in their field:

Cheryl Burgess – Energy: cheryl.burgess@businesslinkeast.co.uk; 07717 290321.
Chris Danner - Aerospace & Airports: chris.danner@herts.businesslink.co.uk; 01727 813 425; 07767 481081.
Stephen Scowcroft - Education & Training: stephen.scowcroft@herts.businesslink.co.uk; 01727 813558; 07739 647387.
Stephen Rix - Automotive & High Performance Engineering: stephen.rix@chamber-business.com; 01582 522448; 07834 621303.
Stephen Cook - Agriculture and Food Processing: stephen.cook@cambs.businesslink.co.uk; 01480 846488; 07966 182641
Florence Kosmala – Environment: f.kosmala@ukceed.org; 01733 311644; 07971 298282.
William Sprigings - Healthcare & BioSciences: william.sprigings@herts.businesslink.co.uk; 01727 813447; 07770 878154;
Mike O'Malley – ICT: mike.omalley@bls.org.uk; 01473 694809; 07796 956500.
Graeme Bilton - ICT: graeme.bilton@cambs.businesslink.co.uk; 01480 846485; 07092 235729.

4. Passport to Export is a nationally available toolkit of advice and support, from UK Trade & Investment, aimed at helping new and inexperienced exporters take their first steps into international trade.

For further media information please contact Karen Dowle or Rebecca Young on 01223 372791/372785.

Issued on behalf of UK Trade & Investment by GNN East (www.gnn.gov.uk)