Equi-Trek Ltd

A FAMILY business making horse trailers and transporters is galloping ahead in the export stakes.

Meltham-based Equi-Trek Ltd has revolutionised the design of horse trailers to provide the “sophistication, safety and accommodation” required by equestrian competitors.

The company designed a unique side-loading trailer to make loading and unloading less stressful for the horse and provide better accommodation for its human companions.

The design was granted a patent and a prototype was built. Following a successful pilot scheme, Equi-Trek bought its first small manufacturing unit in 2004 and began production.

In 2007, the company moved to larger premises and appointed its first European distributor.

The company went on to introduce its first motorised horsebox which was an instant hit – leading to the opening of another factory to meet demand.

The range was further extended with the firm’s Endeavour 7.5-tonne horsebox capable of transporting three animals with full living accommodation and room for all the equipment required. The vehicle proved a success at home and abroad.

Equi-Trek exhibited at the Equitana exhibition in Essen, Germany, which resulted in an expansion in the number of European distributors – and export sales hitting the £500,000 mark.

Last year, the firm introduced its Envoy 12-tonne horsebox and the opening of another site to cope with production demands. The company promoted the newcomer at exhibitions in Belgium, France, Italy, Germany and Sweden, resulting in another rise in export sales.

This year, the firm has introduced new vehicles at both ends of the scale – with the entry-level Trail-Trek trailer and an 18-tonne luxury Voyager horsebox capable of carrying up to nine horses. It has also achieved quality assurance standard ISO9001.

Managing director Raymond Janion said: “Equi-Trek horseboxes are becoming the preferred choice of many international champions, such as John Whitaker, Oliver Townend, Robert Smith and Para-Olympic champion Lee Pearson.

“We were honoured go supply Windsor Castle with a trailer and also a horsebox to the Parachute Regiment for their mascot ponies.

“Our success is due to being at the forefront of design and a desire for excellence – driven by an outstanding team of dedicated employees who are always prepared to go the extra mile.”

Mr Janion added: “Our plans for 2011 include opening an apprentice training scheme to give young people the opportunity for training and provide a skilled workforce for the future.”

Severn Unival

AN ENGINEERING company in the heart of Huddersfield is forging ahead in overseas markets.

Severn Unival, which has its main manufacturing facilities and head office at Milford Street, has overcome the impact of the global recession to achieve export sales of £12.1m in 2009 – an increase of £2.2m on the previous year.

The company, part of the Severn Glocon Group, has expanded into new markets and invested in its people and business operations to drive growth. The drive resulted in the group being ranked as the 61st fastest-growing for international sales in the Sunday Times Fast Track.

Natalie Clarke, group marketing assistant, said: “Severn Unival provides technical leadership in valve performance for all industrial valve operations. The business is a global authority in the repair and failure analysis of control valves, delivering performance excellence for our clients in the refining, power and oil and gas markets of the world.

“Our Huddersfield hub also provides a custom design and manufacturing facility along with an inventory management service.”

The group now draws 65% of its revenue from outside the UK, mainly in the Middle East and Norway.

Said Ms Clarke: “The knowledge and skills of our team in Huddersfield ensures a constantly improving standard of operations and has further underpinned our international business growth in the past year.”

During the past 12 months, the group has opened a dedicated office in Rio, created a new sales manager position in China and launched a subsidiary company in Canada.

It has also set up Quantapoint Europe, a joint venture with American company Quantapoint to use 3D laser scanning to help engineers and operators modify existing plant or build new plant without the need for repeated site visits.

As a result of a five-year project led by Severn Unival, the group has won a major valve order from Saudi Aramco, the state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia and the largest oil corporation in the world.

In the first quarter of 2010, it has won orders from Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Norway.

Ms Clarke said unstable global markets would provide challenges for Severn Unival in the coming months, but added: “We believe that continued investment in overseas markets underpinned by stringent financial control from our Huddersfield hub will enable us to continue the growth trajectory of the last 12 months.

“With this in mind, our continued commitment to Huddersfield will see significant investment in new facilities in early 2011.”

Newsholme Food Group

COMPANY in Huddersfield is supplying quality meat products to customers in the UK and beyond.

Newsholme Food Group, based at New Hey Road, Oakes, has grown from a small, family-owned business to a company employing more than 200 people and achieving sales exceeding £25m.

Spokesman Jeremy Thwaite said: “We are one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of quality meat-based products, delivering to customers nationally and exporting to Europe and beyond. We pride ourselves on delivering a flexible, efficient customer service that’s second to none.

“We believe our success is down to our heritage and culture. We started out as a small family-owned business in 1950, making quality products and treating customers the way we liked to be treated ourselves.

“More than half a century later and our high quality standards haven’t changed a bit.”

The company has invested £3.7m in a new 50,000sq ft purpose-built factory extension which has given the firm one of the most modern manufacturing facilities in Europe and created extra jobs.

“Our investment has brought us a high-capacity, state-of-the-art production facility so we can work around the clock to ensure orders are completed promptly.

“We are growing – against the odds – in challenging times. We believe that our business sends out positive signals to the local community – that growth is possible and ambitious plans can become a reality.

“Over the past 12 months, we have continued to grow and to make use of our extra capacity which has resulted in an increase in both our sales and our workforce.”