Unison Ltd

From seaside to stateside for Yorkshire firm

Unison Ltd, based in Scarborough, plans to ‘target the world’ with its revolutionary products and some help from Business Link York and North Yorkshire.

Unison, which manufacturers and distributes All Electric Tube Bending Machines, worked with Business Link and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to acquire financial support which has helped secure over £600,000 in export orders via the Targeted Export Support Scheme, which is funded by Yorkshire Forward.

Steve Richardson, international trade adviser at Business Link York and North Yorkshire, says: “The scheme has been designed to help companies in Yorkshire and the Humber introduce new products into existing markets or, like Unison, to take an existing product into a new market.  The funding is being used to research new markets and then to help sell the products through trade shows and advertising. 

“It has also safeguarded 20 jobs in Scarborough and created a further four, with more expected in the future.”

Alan Pickering, managing director at Unison, comments, “We already have a good export trade, particularly in the USA where we have contracts with Senior Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Delphi, Dana and Unarco to supply All Electric Tube Bending Machinery.  Using Business Link and UKTI we hope to be able to target other customers throughout the world.

“Having already worked with UKTI through Business Link on various other export projects we turned to them again for guidance on financial support available to us, which as a result has allowed us to conduct thorough research, secure jobs, grow the company, and reach a worldwide market, all from our headquarters in Scarborough.”

One of Unison’s most prestigious customers, Airbus in Filton, Bristol, paid for their first machine in 16 weeks through reduced scrap alone.  They now have six machines producing all the bent tubes in the wings of their aircraft including the new Super Jumbo A380.

Unison was established in Scarborough in 1973 designing and building a revolutionary system for bending metal tubes.  Its customers now range from aircraft manufacturers to automotive parts and contemporary furniture.  In 1999 Unison exported its first machine to USA and now sells to 13 different countries worldwide.  The firm employs 26 staff at its UK headquarters on Olympian Trading Estate in Scarborough.

Steve Richardson adds, “It’s a common misconception that for a company to be able to export successfully they need to be big or be in a big city location.  The combination of a good product, good advice and a determination to succeed has seen Unison Ltd achieve great things in a relatively short time.”