Deal will see suspension company export to Qatar
APOWYS manufacturer of innovative suspension systems for electrical, heating and ventilation industries has added Qatar to its growing list of export markets
Zip-Clip, based in Welshpool, has signed an exclusivity deal with HBA Private Trading & Contracting for the distribution of its range throughout Qatar.
Founded in 2004 the business exports its products to more than 50 clients across more than 30 countries, including America, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The Qatari deal with Sheikh Hamad Ahmed S J Al Thani’s company, HBA Private Trading & Contracting, is the result of five years of hard work from the firm which began in 2014 when it attended a Welsh Government trade mission to
Qatar. As a result Zip-Clip had its products approved by the Arab Engineering Bureau for use in the Msheireb Heritage Museum project.
Zip-Clip was given a brief to find a way of suspending projectors in a number of the new museums built in the cultural quarter that have traditional Qatari wicker ceilings. As nothing could be fixed to these ceilings the company had to design and develop a special system to overcome this.
Further to the completion of this project, Zip-Clip was approached by HBA Private Trading & Contracting to distribute the Zip-Clip products throughout Qatar.
Exports now account for 40% of
Zip-Clip’s turnover and the company aims to increase this figure to 60% by 2020 through new contracts.
Looking ahead, the company is due to be involved in a number of high-profile projects including the Fifa World Cup 2022 stadiums currently being constructed in Qatar. This follows involvement in landmark architectural projects including London’s Olympic Park, the revamped BBC Television Centre and American Embassy, as well as Ski Dubai and Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi.
The business has seen significant growth in recent years, with five new employees joining so far this year, increasing its staff to 45.
Steve Goldsworthy, chief executive of Zip-Clip, said: “It is a pleasure to be in partnership with HBA Private Trading and Contracting. Zip-Clip
strive to work with only the elite companies in the market and it is a pleasure to be working with such an enthusiastic and driven business which adopts the same ethos as the rest of Zip-Clip’s global partners. With our recent appointment it allows Zip-Clip’s brand to grow and expand our global reach.”
Welsh Government Minister for International Relations, Eluned Morgan, said: “This is great news for ZipClip and for mid Wales. It is fantastic to see innovative products, made in Wales, being used in Qatar and markets across the world. I am pleased that Welsh Government has been able to help Zip-Clip to grow its exports and I am determined to ensure that the Welsh Government continues to support Welsh companies such as Zip-Clip to export their goods and services.”