Flow-Mon

Going with the flow into China

Monitoring the flow of liquids or gas through a range of industrial pipe systems requires a carefully calibrated yet cost-effective solution. The water, gas, oil and chemical industries are just some of the sectors that depend on accurate flow indicators to operate efficiently and safely.  

Now with the help of UK Trade & Investment and Yorkshire Forward, one North Yorkshire company has been able to develop a flow rate monitor that is tailor made for export.    

Flow-Mon in Harrogate was established more than thirty years ago when it began operation as a distributor of Flow Rate Indicators and Flow Switches. It wasn’t too long before the company began manufacturing Flow Monitors under a license agreement.  

Throughout the years Flow-Mon has always been one step ahead in product development, but in 2001 when the company became part of Pullman Instruments and the Everett Smith Group, a new opportunity arose to develop their product range and expand sales. 

Managing Director, Nathan Smith said: 

“We had already been working with UK Trade & Investment using their Overseas Market Introductory Service (OMIS) to explore likely overseas sales, and China looked like it could be a promising market for us. As a result of the OMIS report, we went out to China on a trade mission and found a distributor, but while we were there, we also identified a need for a particular kind of flow monitor which we were keen to design and develop ourselves” 

UK Trade & Investment’s Tony Hurlow is based at York and North Yorkshire Business Link where he works as an International Trade Adviser. 

Tony Hurlow said: “It quickly became evident that Flow-Mon were eligible to apply for Yorkshire Forward funding under the Targeted Export Support Scheme (TESS).

“This programme supports companies who are developing a product for export purposes. It was this funding which helped to produce the costs for the design and production of a proto-type flow monitor for the Chinese market.”   

With the new flow indicator off the drawing board, Flow-Mon were ready for China, The company attended an exhibition in Beijing which they followed up with business in Shanghai and Guangzhu. 

Nathan Smith explained: “To satisfy a niche in the Chinese market we needed to make a new indicator that involved designing a raised glass cover over a white ball in a socket. When there is no flow in the pipeline, the ball remains seated in its socket but as the flow rises the ball lifts out of the socket and becomes clearly visible. The ball continues to rise and rotate in the glass dome as the flow increases. The Flow-Mon ‘Rising Ball’ visual flow indicator is simple, but extremely effective.” 

UK Trade & Investment recently helped Flow-Mon identify further TESS funding. This gave the company an opportunity to join a Leeds Chamber trade mission to Shanghai in April where they were able to seek further contacts and consolidate some of their existing business in China. 

Website: www.flow-mon.com