Pickersgill-Kaye reports that it’s expanding its sales into Australia and the Pacific after generating enquiries by joining the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Northern Powerhouse trade mission to AusRail PLUS 2015, pictured – the largest rail trade show in the region.
The Leeds-based lock and security products manufacturer, recently acquired by ASSA ABLOY, shared a stand at the AusRail event with UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber. The exhibition in Melbourne drew industry, rail manufacturers and train operators. Pickersgill-Kaye says it has received encouraging sales enquiries from local rail suppliers while in Australia for the exhibition. There was interest in Pickersgill-Kaye’s retrofit locomotive cab door locks and an enquiry for locks for trams, generated by ASSA ABLOY Australia, whose factory in Melbourne was on the trip’s itinerary for Pickersgill-Kaye’s Director Business Development, Harry Griffiths.
He said: “We had already committed to attend AusRail with the UKTI Northern Powerhouse trade mission before the takeover by ASSA ABLOY. There are a lot of aging locos Down Under used in the minerals and mining industries which need potential refurbishment. We have made a good contact from attending AusRail PLUS with UKTI and are now discussing potential trials of our products.”
UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber regional director Mark Robson, added: “Pickersgill-Kaye is a classic example of proactive companies in Yorkshire and the Humber looking to increase their business overseas by attending trade shows that offer positive and direct opportunities in existing and new markets and UKTI is here to help open such revenue enhancing doors.”
After the acquisition by ASSA ABLOY, Pickersgill-Kaye now forms part of an international group.
Mr Griffiths said: “Being part of such a world-class business adds more power to our elbow. It gives Pickersgill-Kaye the support needed to grow further by breaking into new markets. We sent some lock samples to ASSA ABLOY Australia and they see a lot of potential for our specialist high security products as they don’t think there’s anything like it in the Australian market.”
Pickersgill-Kaye products are used by train companies across the world; the company reports that its customer base includes Siemens, Bombardier, Alstom, Irish Rail, CAF, Hyundai-Rotem, Ocean Eagle, DB Cargo UK (formerly DB Schenker Rail UK) and Hitachi. Its largest single order to date was emergency door handles for the Class 800 and 801 trains being supplied by Hitachi Rail Europe for the multi-billion pound Intercity Express Programme (IEP), one of the biggest rail projects in the world.
The company has also entered the Chinese market, securing a deal to supply cell door locks for the custodial suite of the first railway satellite police station on the route of the new Hong Kong-China Express Rail Link.
