Flex-Seal

South Yorkshire company seals success

Flex-Seal Couplings Ltd has come a long way since it first set up in Sheffield in 1988 with two staff. Today, the company – which designs and manufactures high performance pipe connection and repair solutions for the sewerage, drainage and plumbing industry – operates from a custom built production and assembly plant in Wombwell, South Yorkshire. It employs more than sixty people in the UK.

The company is still growing, having just extended their site to house new products and ensure room for growth over the next five years.

In 2002 Flex-Seal became part of the Fernco group of companies based in Michigan, USA, creating a global group that supplies the most extensive range of flexible coupling throughout the world.

UK Trade & Investment at South Yorkshire International Trade Centre (SYITC) have been working with the company to help identify further opportunities overseas as well as launch newly developed products into the international market.

Dan Penney, International Sales Director said: “We pride ourselves on being a global company with local market knowledge. So we’ve commissioned reports from UK Trade & Investment on some of the European markets where we would like to develop business. These reports help to narrow down the field when seeking the right business contacts overseas and they save a lot of time and resources. A recent market report we received on Spain for instance, has helped us identify business there which we are already finalising.

“The International Trade Adviser at SYITC has also pointed us towards Yorkshire Forward funding to help develop new markets such as India and Australia. We already have a team of four based permanently in India and we plan to set up a similar team in Australia.”

Innovation is an integral part of the company’s success and at present Flex-Seal has several new drainage products at various stages of research and development. The company is committed to launching at least two new major complementary products every year.

Eric Holland, International Trade Adviser at SYITC has been working with the company for some time.

Eric said: “The company is going from strength to strength with its overseas business because of its dedication to the expansion and development of its brand.

“The Targeted Export Support Scheme from Yorkshire Forward made funds available to do research not only on new markets but on the new brands.

“The Overseas Market Introduction Reports the company commissioned are compiled by UKTI staff in the embassies and consulates abroad. This ensures that commissioning companies like Flex-Seal have access to the latest local business knowledge available.”

With visits to India and China this year, as well as strategic plans for further expansion across Europe, Flex-Seal’s international trade profile seems assured for years to come.

Visit the Flex-Seal website for more information on the company.