Partner Article

Sailing into a new market

A family business which started life making sails has diversified into the industrial arena after becoming increasingly-competitive in Europe.

Trident UK was first launched in the early eighties making bespoke sails from its home on the South bank of the Tyne.

Dry suits, water safety and water sports equipment followed as the company grew, and now it is targeting the vast market for industrial covers.

The weakening of the pound during the economic downturn has meant its products are increasingly attractive to European firms and it has already shipped products to Norway and has supplied a nuclear power plant with industrial-strength covers.

Co-owner David Gebhard, said the company’s sales of dry suits for water sports had been dented by the recent freezing conditions in Britain, but that its emerging presence in the industrial sector had helped it to grow its revenues.

He said: “Last year we had a good year with and we have become very competitive in Northern Europe and our turnover was up last year on previous years.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .