Precision Technologies Group recognised by China business award

The North West England Greater China Business Awards, organised by UK Trade & Investment North West, sponsored by Finnair and announced at the Lowry Theatre on Friday, 3 February, acknowledge and reward companies and organisations that have made the most significant contribution to developing business or network links with Greater China in the preceding year. Incorporating Holroyd, Binns & Berry, Crawford Swift, PTG Heavy Industries and Precision Components, the Precision Technologies Group was acquired by China's Chongqing Machinery and Electric Co (CQME) in 2010 (See news story here and and feature here). PTG designs, develops, manufactures and commissions high precision machine tools and production systems. The company exports 95% of its output and its products are used in a wide variety of applications, including air conditioners, cooling and refrigeration systems for buildings, ships and aircraft and specialised welding systems for high speed railway carriages and aircraft fuselages. The company first started developing its connections in China and Taiwan in the mid 1980s, with the company adopting a strategy that saw it immersing itself in the local culture and business practices, with the result that the company quickly identified the need to connect with 'leader' companies in the knowledge that business would follow from companies demanding equally competitive technologies. In 2007, the company established its own Chinese office and service centre, recruiting local commercial, sales and technical personnel. Frequent visits by senior UK staff and customer visits to PTG's facilities in the UK have helped build strong relationships with Chinese customers. PTG says that it sees itself as an important part of the local community, putting great emphasis is also placed on forging connections through official channels. Signing ceremonies and receptions have been held with the Mayor of Rochdale at Rochdale Town Hall, while Chinese visitors have also been escorted on guided regional tours, as well as attending conferences at Manchester and Huddersfield Universities. The company adds that it also places great importance on the necessity for its employees to familiarise themselves with their Chinese customers' cultural and social environment, ensuring that any gaps in either skills or understanding are quickly closed. To that end, in 2011, PTG provided basic Chinese language lessons for all of its UK customer-facing staff. As a result, PTG's sales into China have continued to increase year on year, with the volume of enquiries growing rapidly and business for 2012 already well on course to outperform last year's, with three large machine orders, valued at £6 million, having already been confirmed. PTG's strategy for the Chinese and Taiwanese markets is a long term one. In 2012, the company invested in a joint venture company to build and operate a parts production facility in Chongqing in western China, opening up efficient supply routes to lower cost markets throughout China and East Asia. With over 60 high-end machines already installed in China and Taiwan, plans are already afoot for PTG to expand its Chinese regional office, growing both its sales and service capacity. Philomena Chen, Head of Asia Pacific Development for UK Trade and Investment North West, said: "PTG has demonstrated a positive and determined approach, building and maintaining strong relationships in the market resulting in valuable, mutually beneficial partnerships and trading. The company is an object lesson in how to turn around a traditional manufacturing business into a successful international operation." Image: L to R - Clive Drinkwater, UKTI; Don Whittle, PTG Group HR director; Philomena Chen, UKTI.