Pakawaste boosts business with overseas expansion

Waste handling systems manufacturer Pakawaste is enjoying a boost in trade thanks to increased export sales.

The company has recently opened a dealership in Ahmedabad, India, and commissioned an agent in Bangalore, following a UKTI trade mission in March, and this month CEO David Hamer is returning to India to further business links there.

Since working with UKTI the business also now sells to a range of overseas markets including Australia, France, Italy, Germany and the Middle East. Pakawaste’s next target market is America, where it is due to open a dealership in Chicago this year.

“In 2008 the recession here hit us very hard and we realised it was time to explore more opportunities. We contacted UK Trade & Investment and have had a range of help from them, including taking the Passport to Export programme to help us build a strategy and using market visit support to attend trade missions. We also underwent language and culture training, and commissioned research on the Middle East and Australian markets through UKTI’s Overseas Market Introduction (OMIS) service.”

David adds, “There is huge competition in these markets, but the reason we can compete is that we build a quality product at a competitive price. We used to have our machinery made overseas but in 2008 we brought manufacturing back to Preston.

Barbara Singleton, International Trade Adviser for UKTI North West, added: “Pakawaste has made great progress in new export markets, and has managed to compete in a competitive environment due to the quality and affordability of its products.

“The company make and sell the machinery and then provide a service afterwards and many of their products we produce are bespoke – so for example when fulfilling a contract for the Qatar Conference Centre they worked with the architects from an early stage to provide them with tailor made solutions.