Testing specialist measures up £1 million sales target

Steve Dunn (BGWM) with Staht’s founder Rob Hirst

A Black Country testing specialist is celebrating its fifth birthday in style by committing to reaching over £1 million of sales over the next 12 months. Staht, which was created by former 3M global product manager Rob Hirst, is revolutionising the way construction and safety sectors complete pull-testing and proof-loading testing for fixings and safety eyebolts.

Its growing range of products have been designed to deliver optimum measuring performance on-site and has the best digital app on the market, giving a ‘connected’ solution that provides a GPS location, videos/photographs and data in real time.

The Lye-based company has also tapped into support from Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM) in Dudley to help it build its brand awareness and to access capital funding to buy a 3-D printer – a purchase that has allowed it to bring prototyping in-house.

Mr Hirst said: “We have come a long way since we started in my kitchen during Covid-19 and sometimes you have to take a step back and realise how far you have come as a business. I knew there was a gap in the market for a new pull-testing and proof loading product and, five years on, we now have an industry-leading ‘connected’ solution that is sold in more than 15 countries, including Australia, Italy, the USA and South America.”

Rapid expansion
He continued: “Our first year saw us generate around £250,000 in turnover, but that was all about laying the foundations — 2026 is set to generate over £1 million in revenues. To cope with this expansion, we have invested heavily in our warehouse and workshops on Hayes Lane Trading Estate and have recently added a new training centre to educate existing and new customers on how our products work.”

Staht’s first product has been the hugely successful T60, which can test a fixing and anchor bolt up to 6 tonnes - critical for ensuring safety on site such as fall protection systems, safety eyebolts, anchor fixings and lifting points. Backed by Innovate UK, the company has added the digital T25 to its range, with both solutions featuring the Staht Connect app for both Android and iOS, Bluetooth capabilities up to 10m, and sunlight-ready full-colour screens.

Mr Hirst added: “When you are growing as fast as we are, you do not have much time to work out where to go for help, which is why engaging with Steve Dunn, business growth adviser at Business Growth West Midlands in Dudley, has been such a godsend. He has helped us clearly identify where the opportunities for our business exist and how to move towards them, including how to access capital equipment funding.

“This has already seen us received match-funding towards a new 3-D printer that will help us speed up time to market and we have also attended several networking events that are boosting our brand locally. BGWM in Dudley gives us that additional sounding board to run ideas past, which is very useful when you are a small team.”

BGWM in Dudley, which is managed by Dudley Council and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is supporting more than 700 companies based in the borough. This package of support includes advice from local business growth advisers, grant programmes to improve productivity and expedite the businesses’ journey towards ‘net zero’, innovation support and assistance for entrepreneurship and start-up businesses.

Delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, the local business growth advisers provide an information, diagnostic, brokerage, and account management service to support local businesses to thrive, innovate, and grow, while also supporting entrepreneurs to progress their ideas. A special focus is placed on helping firms in key local sectors and engaging with harder to reach groups, such as women-led and ethnic minority-led businesses.

Steve Dunn, business growth adviser, concluded: “The Black Country has been built on innovation and it is great to see Rob and his six-strong team designing, developing and manufacturing products in Lye. He is creating jobs and has a strong vision for growth through the launch of new solutions. We are pleased to use our contacts and our GROWTHMapper diagnostic tool to deliver tailored advice and support that will drive his company’s expansion.”