A LISBURN based manufacturing firm has secured international export contracts worth over a quarter of a million pounds following attendance at a major trade show in America.
Smiley Monroe has secured significant new business in the US and Asia, following its participation at ConExpo - a leading trade show for the construction industry, which takes place every three years in Las Vegas.
Thanks to support from Invest NI the Lisburn company was able to exhibit and secured the two contracts estimated to be worth £265,000.
Smiley Monroe’s core manufactured products are hot spliced ‘Endless Conveyor Belts’ and Custom Rubber Parts, locally produced and exported to over 40 countries for use in equipment sectors as diverse as mobile crushing, screening, recycling and washing, environmental, bulk material handling and road construction.
A family-run business, founded in 1979, it operates from premises in the Knockmore Hill Industrial Park and Lissue Industrial Estate in Lisburn, employing 140 people.
It also operates a manufacturing facility in India and has further announced investment to build a new production centre which will provide an additional 1000sq m of manufacturing space at its Lissue hub.
Global sales director Chris Monroe explained how the company has reported record sales figures for the first quarter of 2017 – the best in company history and is on track for a record sales year.
“We’ve invested quite a bit of time in developing our knowledge of the market and since the last (ConExpo) show in 2014, our export sales have increased by 27 per cent and we’re keen to build upon this success. This new business is a direct result of our marketing efforts in North America and is a very encouraging signal as we prepare to expand our presence there. Feedback from the show has only bolstered our confidence in pursuing this strategy."
Director of trade at Invest NI Alison Gowdy added:
“Smiley Monroe has been able to scale quickly and invest in growth in international markets. These new contracts now put the company in a stronger position to secure future export business in these markets and I hope that its success can inspire other Northern Ireland companies to consider exporting to grow globally.”
