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Prestige Leeds lock-maker Pickersgill-Kaye is poised to conquer new international markets with its world-class products after teaming up with Chamber International experts.

The historic Hunslet company, founded in 1855, sells a third of its premium locks and other products to more than a dozen markets across three continents in deals worth around £900,000 a year. Many of its locks are installed on trains and it holds the lion’s share of the UK rail market. Additionally, it supplies prison door locks to such places as Ireland and Malaysia as well as emergency communication units used on train and underground rail systems.

Despite tough times during 2009 sales manager Harry Griffiths remains upbeat about future prospects after assistance from Chamber International in streamlining its export and documentation procedures.

Pickersgill-Kaye has Russia firmly in its sights.

“From 2012 until 2030 thousands of locomotives are going to be built and we want to get our locks on to these trains,” says Mr Griffiths.

Fifteen years ago the company, which employs more than 50 staff, sold virtually nothing overseas apart from small orders to Irish Rail. The export side of the business has steadily increased thanks, in part, to the fact that its locks are of such high quality they set the standard worldwide. Some train operators working in sub-zero temperatures insist that manufacturers fit only Pickersgill-Kaye locks.

The training was provided in-house by Chamber International consultant Mark Rowbotham, a former HM Revenue and Customs executive. It involved virtually the entire export department and focused on selling UK locks overseas and then the movement of finished trains back to European rail authorities.

“The training helped us to form an internal action plan,” adds Mr Griffiths. “It assisted us in better understanding the rules and documentation required by HM Customs. Everybody had their frustrations about the lack of clarity on those rules.

“We’re also changing and upgrading our despatch processes as well as our warranty returns and rejects procedures. The whole training exercise has certainly improved our export operations and our confidence.”