A Black Country manufacturer is today celebrating its best-ever year of trading with India.
Brierley Hill-based Alloy Wire International (AWI), which makes round, flat and profile wire, sent more than £650,000 of material to customers in the subcontinent over the past 12 months – a 50% increase since the end of the Covid pandemic.
This news comes after the signing of a UK-India trade deal at the end of July this year. While the past year’s success is largely unrelated to it, this trade deal bodes well for the future.
Success down to great relationships
AWI said India currently accounts for nearly 10% of AWI’s overseas sales, and the firm attributes this to its 45-year relationship with Kolkata-based agent Amit Banerjee, who has helped connect with customers wanting full traceability, repeatable quality and quick industry-lead times.
“A lot of our export success has been built on finding the right partner on the ground, who understands the material we supply and the unique services we offer, including three-week turnaround times,” said Tom Mander, MD of AWI.
“We then collectively use their expertise and contacts on the ground and the relationship we have with Amit is a perfect example of this. It is one of our longest-standing agent agreements and, after 45 years, is getting stronger than ever with sales increasing rapidly.”
He added: “Last year we did over £650,000 of revenue and, this time around, I believe we can surpass that. Indian customers are working with some of the biggest OEMs in the world and need to make sure their components are on time and perform to the highest of standards – that’s where we come in.”
AWI recently opened a new base in the region
AWI recently took on an additional 8,000 sq ft unit near its headquarters in the West Midlands, which it manufactures round, flat and profile wire in 62 Exotic alloys, such as Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, Nimonic and Waspaloy.
Amit Banerjee added: “Alloy Wire International’s reputation for quality and material performance is really making waves in India. My customers also really appreciate the technical service it provides, including working with them on identifying the right alloys and the post-finishing processes we may need to apply.
“The first 45 years have been very good, but this is just the start. With closer ties between the two countries, I can only see this relationship going from strength to strength.”
