Llanelli-based Teddington Engineered Solutions, which supplied parts to keep the RAF’s Spitfires flying during World War 2, has achieved record-breaking export sales after expanding into new international markets.
The company (
www.tes.uk.com) has seen its turnover grow by 18% in the last two years, mainly due to increased demand from export markets, which accounted for 66% of its sales in the last financial year.
Established in the 1920s, Teddington designs and manufactures expansion joints for a range of industries, including aerospace, marine, nuclear power and defence; these joints compensate for movement in pipe-work caused by temperature changes, pressure or vibration.
The company has exported its products to more than 90 countries since 2003, with China, the Middle East and Europe being among its largest markets.
Now for the first time, it has entered a developing sector within the steel industry by making expansion joints for use in direct reduced iron steel plants (direct iron reduction allows steel to be made more cheaply, as it removes the need for conventional blast furnaces).
Jason Thomas, commercial director, said: “Our order book has increased significantly over the last two years, so much so that it reached a record high recently. It’s all down to exports and winning contracts from new clients.
"We’ve been trying for many years to get into this specialised steel-making industry, so finally doing so is a real breakthrough for us.
"We have already supplied three contracts since April last year and have been assured that we are the preferred bidder for future contracts.”