SteriTouch, an anti-microbial products company from South Wales, has built up strong global export sales as a key part of its business growth strategy.
Export sales account for more than half (52%) of SteriTouch’s total sales and the company has plans to grow its exports business as part of a wider expansion strategy.
Ebbw Vale based SteriTouch, which employs 10 people, manufactures antimicrobial coatings and additives found in everyday items such as hand-dryers and TV remote controls, which are notoriously prone to picking up bacteria, often being used by several different people every day. The additives, which are used to prevent cross contamination, are added into materials during the manufacturing process, making the product antimicrobial for its lifetime.
Interest from overseas markets
Founded in 2003, the company focused initially on healthcare products in the UK, believing this to be the obvious sector for antimicrobial protection. It soon drew attention from elsewhere, including from Mothercare, who were interested in a solution for highchairs. With many companies manufacturing in China, SteriTouch was naturally drawn into exporting as it shipped its material directly to the manufacturers of the products. Interest grew in the SteriTouch co-branding facility and inbound enquiries began to arrive from other countries across the globe.
Established exporters
Now, export sales make up more than 52% of SteriTouch’s sales with the company partnering with international companies all around the world to supply its disease preventing products. Sennheiser headphones from Germany and World Dryer hand dryers from the US are just two familiar items that contain SteriTouch antimicrobials.
Since it was first established, SteriTouch has exported to more than 25 countries with China, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Russia, Mexico, Brazil and the United States forming some of its largest markets. Exporting is a key growth avenue for the firm.
Nick Corlett, Director at Steritouch said: “We were originally drawn into exporting by our customers, largely UK based companies licensing the SteriTouch brand and using sub-contract manufacturers in the Far East. Our customers would specify our materials to their manufacturer, which would enable us to dictate the terms of business and in most cases receive payment in advance, which for a small, growing company was a very significant benefit.
“Since SteriTouch began trading in 2003, we have seen huge fluctuations in exchange rates but on balance, the weakening pound has been extremely positive for our exports, either increasing competitiveness or improving margins. Exporting can be a little daunting and the demands on exporters are likely to increase, but for the right products it is a great time to be selling overseas.
“Throughout the 15 years the company has been in business, it has received a range of support from both central and Welsh Government, accessed through Business Wales, from a small Kickstarter grant soon after the company started in 2003, to support for international trademark protection; crucial for export markets, and most recently the Smart Cymru award."