Firm goes continental after deals worth £2m

A Staffordshire company that has picked up more than £2 million of new contracts in the last year has set its sights on European expansion after launching its first overseas operation.

PP Electrical Systems, which employs more than 225 people at its Cheslyn Hay base, has opened a sales and marketing and technical office in Germany to help it grow orders there.

The electrical engineering firm, in Landywood Green, is looking to build on more than £4.5m of orders from customers involved in machine tools, food packaging and other areas.

The new facility in Hamburg is headed up by a local manufacturing expert and will help to support existing clients, target new markets and provide access to opportunities in Luxembourg and Switzerland.

Over the last 10 years, managing director Tony Hague has transformed PP Electrical Systems from a largely domestic business to one which relies on Europe for much of its turnover.

He said: "When you do business in Germany, you have to show commitment and a desire to build long-term relationships.

"One of the best ways to do this is to become part of the local economy, employ local people and immerse yourself in the way they do business."

The German operation will initially employ two people, with associate engineers brought in to offer technical support on existing contracts.

The company has picked up more than £2m of new contracts in the last year alone and expects to double that in 2012, taking its direct export sales past 25 per cent of its £24m turnover. Mr Hague added: "All of the design and manufacturing stays in the UK.

"The German subsidiary may well be the start of many and there is definitely an opportunity for an additional base to explore massive growth in the United States of America."