Property owner Andy Wood is aiming to be a winner in Las Vegas.

The former car salesman isn’t there to play the tables – but to unveil a new product to make hanging wallpaper easier for the professional decorator and the DIYer.

The product, Handi Hanga, makes its international debut tomorrow at the three-day National Hardware Show – the largest trade show in the world for DIY products – in a bid to secure a slice of the 38bn dollar wallcoverings industry.

Andy worked with experts at Huddersfield’s 3M Buckley Innovation Centre to devise the product.

The centre, based at Firth Street, also helped Andy secure government grants to develop several prototypes and meet the cost of his company – Paddock-based Decs M8 Ltd – attending the Las Vegas event.

Andy, who lives at Fenay Bridge, said the idea for the product came to him as he was redecorating one of his properties.

“I have a few properties that I rent out,” he said. “I was doing up one of the properties, trying to wallpaper the staircase. I was hanging over the staircase trying to match the pattern on the paper and I thought there should be a tool to help.

“I explored the idea and designed the product from scratch. I went to 3M BIC with my idea and they got what I was trying to do straight away.”

Andy said Handi Hanga was designed to make hanging wallpaper simpler and safer – and allow the job to the completed by one person.

It features a telescopic arm and head clamp which allows the paper to be lifted into place on walls up to 5m high.

Huddersfield Civic Society Design Awards for 2013. The 3M Buckley Innovation Centre at Firth Street in Huddersfield
Huddersfield Civic Society Design Awards for 2013. The 3M Buckley Innovation Centre at Firth Street in Huddersfield

Unpasted paper can be positioned to match patterns and cut to length while pasted paper can be hung to soak and positioned before smoothing to the wall.

As the paper doesn’t need to be folded as much there is less chance of tearing while a second pole enables the operator to wallpaper the ceiling.

Andy said the product boasted more than 20 benefits for the decorator or DIYer.

He said: “We have had a lot of interest from TV companies. It has already received great feedback from As Seen On TV and from brand developers in Australia who would be interested in representing the product in Australia, Korea, China and Japan.”

US entrepreneur Kevin Harrington, a panellist on TV show Shark Tank, the American version of Dragon’s Den, had also shown interest in the product.

Andy said Handi Hanga’s success to date had been down to the staff at the 3M BIC and its chief executive Liz Towns-Andrews “who has been there for me 110%”.

He said: “The facilities there are second to none. More businesses should make use of the centre.

“People need to know and nuderstand that the centre is there for them. They have great contacts and also access to finance.”