1.           Please provide a company background including when it was established, where it is located, how many staff you employ.

 

Taylor Dynamics, based in Leicester, is a leading provider of photoelectric, rotary encoding and label sensing solutions for the manufacturing industry. Established in 1970, the business employs 8 specialist members of full time staff, and provides innovative products to multiple industrial sectors - in particular the food industry - distributing to a number of global markets including the USA, Germany and more recently China.

 

2.           Please provide an overview of the products and services offered and areas of specialisation

 

Taylor Dynamics has developed industry leading practice in the area of label sensing and the use of advanced photoelectric technology. More recently, the business has worked with clients such as Nestle, Associated British Foods, Bakkauor and KP Foods to provide solutions in the manufacturing process that monitor the quality of output from the production line. The system uses photo sensors that identify the colour of product being produced.  Discrepancies in colour, often in detail not commonly picked up by traditional human inspection, can determine if the product has failed to meet its minimal quality standards. This is an invaluable resource for the food industry in particular. In addition, Taylor Dynamics has a long track record and continues to be specialists in the monitoring of the correct application of product labels, as well as product counters for the production line, including installing counters on the turnstiles of Premier League Football Club, Aston Villa.

 

3.           How did you find out about emita and what benefits do you find the most valuable?

 

Emita has allowed the directors of the business to meet likeminded individuals and businesses who are as ambitious as ourselves, enabling us to share mutual contacts and areas of best practice. The East Midlands is home to a number of industry leading businesses, with the sharing of knowledge sessions - in particular on distribution oversees - as well as opportunities to network, providing an invaluable source of support.

 

4.           How long has your company been active in the export/ import market and which countries do you work with?

 

In the last 20 years, Taylor Dynamics has dealt with a number of global markets, and we see the expansion of our exporting capabilities as a key opportunity to build incremental revenue growth going forward. The business imports hardware and software directly from the USA and Germany, and distributes packaged solutions to businesses in the Republic of Ireland, Germany, USA and recently China.

 

5.           What made you decide to expand your business overseas?

 

The UK market for Taylor Dynamics will continue to be predominantly focussed in the UK.  However, as a business that works closely with leading manufacturers of product, markets across the globe where output in this area in respect to GDP is continuing to grow, will be of major interest to us. We believe that we have an innovative product, comparable with many of our competitors across the world, and so we have an opportunity to add value to businesses operating in these markets.

 

6.           What has been your biggest exporting / importing challenge?

 

The main challenge is achieving the economies of scale we enjoy with a national market in the UK on a larger scale. To do that you need to be flexible, and trusting of suppliers and clients that you have not necessarily dealt with before.  Making sure you do the necessary due diligence is critical in order to step over this hurdle.

 

7.           What is the most helpful piece of international trade advice you have received?

 

Make sure you always invest in innovation. This is critical in the field Taylor Dynamics deals in. To put it simply, in order to attract the best partnerships with potential clients internationally, you have to be offering a service that is more advanced and can add more value than what they can purchase locally.  It would be difficult for a UK business to compete on price with most markets globally, especially in the Far East and South America.

 

8.           What does the future hold?  Any particular markets you are looking to target next?

 

We will continue to try to be one step ahead of our competitors. Our colour sensing product is a very exciting solution that we believe will be attractive to the national and international market, particularly China and South America. We are fully committed to continue to develop this concept and future proofing for the ever changing requirements of our customers.