We’ve been trying to get into China for some time.

BRITAIN’S sole trombone manufacturer is aiming to hit the right note in China.

Rath Trombones, which is based at Honley, has provided instruments for renowned musicians including the Count Basie Orchestra, the Berlin Opera and the world-famous Black Dyke Mills Band.

Now the company, which makes 20 different models of the instrument, has teamed up with overseas trade specialist Chamber International, and its China affairs associate, Matthew Grandage, to help the firm gain a better understanding of Chinese business culture.

Rath Trombones founder Mick Rath and his wife Nikki, who employ nine skilled craftspeople, already sell their instruments to 25 countries and have dealers in the USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Exports account for more than 60% of total sales.

Mick, who started playing the tuba when he was aged 11, said: “Ours are high-quality instruments made by British craftspeople. This, and the fact a modular design enables customers to interchange components to ensure a perfect instrument for most trombone players, gives us wide appeal to players and dealers overseas.

“The trombone market is fairly small and we need to export to keep growing. We cannot rely on the UK alone to sustain business, and exporting enables us to take advantage of fluctuating economies and exchange rates.

“We’ve been trying to get into China, a large and increasingly wealthy market with good arts funding, for some time. However, a lack of understanding of Chinese business culture, which is very different to ours, is holding us back.

“Matthew is helping me understand this and, if it enables us to sell there, it can trigger a further 25% sales growth. We could end up exporting 75% of our products.”