Macalloy Ltd

A successful South Yorkshire company is using a range of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) services to underpin the expansion of its international business.

Macalloy is a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of threaded bar and cable systems which form the frames for stunning feats of structural engineering and architectural design worldwide.

In the 1980’s Sir Norman Foster designed the Renault distribution centre in Swindon, using Macalloy’s Tension Structure system. The bright yellow exo-skeleton, now known as the Spectrum Building, went on to win numerous awards and this unique and exciting application of tension structures began a trend in wide span structural design.

Now Macalloy’s tension structures have become a by-word for cutting edge design and engineering and can be admired in breathtaking buildings such as the Burj Al Arab Hotel in the United Arab Emirates, The Korean World Centre Pyramid and the Scottish Parliament.

Both at home and overseas UKTI is playing an important part in promoting the company’s global expansion.

Joyce Trueman, business development manager said: “UK Trade & Investment are certainly able to open doors to overseas business, but then companies must be prepared to put in the hard work that follows. We cannot expect UKTI to do our job for us, and that’s just how it should be.   

“In Jo Barker, UKTI’s international trade adviser in South Yorkshire, Macalloy couldn’t ask for a better ally when it comes to help in planning our export strategy. Jo is always on hand to offer advice on all the latest funding programmes and export services that might benefit our overseas business.

“We have used Yorkshire Forward’s Targeted Export Support Scheme (TESS), for example, to undertake fact-finding projects in a number of countries including Spain, Russia, the Czech Republic, and France. TESS has also helped us re-vamp our website to reflect our international profile and this, in turn, has led to more orders. We are now working in round-the-clock shifts to supply our customers. The TESS funding has also allowed us to send our staff overseas to meet the architects and structural designers we work with in person, and to market our products without the need of an overseas office.”

Joyce added: “We also use the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) which provides British companies with a tailored business report on targeted overseas markets. The reports are compiled by UKTI staff based in the embassies overseas and we had a brilliant report from Rishikesh Chanda in Delhi which gave us all the background information and contacts we needed to move our business on a stage in India. We are currently commissioning another OMIS on Russia, a market we know is going to be more of a challenge as the business culture is quite different.” 

Joyce is a firm believer in the value of making contact with the UKTI staff in the embassies and consulates whenever the Macalloy staff are on overseas business.

“These people are usually very well placed to suggest good business leads on the ground. Whenever we can, we call in to introduce ourselves and to let the UKTI staff know just what we are doing there. The more they know about our business the more they can help us.

“We invited Michael Peaseland from the consulate in Milan to our factory here in Yorkshire some time ago. He was so impressed with what he saw that he immediately put us in contact with a company in Italy which led to another overseas contract.”

2006 saw Macalloy Ltd relocate to the prestigious HQ and factory complex in Dinnington, Sheffield, and this year Macalloy celebrates its 60th anniversary of providing post-tensioning systems into the civil engineering industry.

In February 2008, along with more than 40 companies from the Yorkshire and Humber region, Joyce attended UK Trade & Investment’s International Business Network (IBN) in Denmark.

She commented: “It was a fantastic event where the Yorkshire companies were able to entertain invited Danish companies at the British Ambassador’s residence. British branded goods have a high value overseas and our connection with the Embassy gives us an added stamp of authenticity. This carried through to the meeting with the Federation of Danish Industries the next day when we were accompanied by Sir Digby Jones, the patron of the IBN. The whole event was terrifically motivating both from a networking and a business point of view.”    

For further information on the company please visit www.macalloy.com