An Easingwold business is now exporting to all parts of the globe, including the US and Kazakhstan.

Industrial Textiles and Plastics supports its international ambitions with proficiency in more than seven languages, including an export manager who speaks French, German and Swedish, as well as a French specialist.

The firm is now hoping to win the Dare To Export award at The Press Business Awards 2013.

Founded in 1989, Industrial Textiles & Plastics Ltd manufactures protective engineered materials, particularly flame-retardant textiles and chemical-resistant membranes. Initially the business was just UK-focused, with no particular eye on the wider global market.

With no clear export strategy, overseas business was limited to some small orders from Australia.

Through market intelligence, Scandinavia was identified as a primary export opportunity and the export department was set up in 2003.

This resulted in a new distribution centre in Gothenburg and this designated resource and a formalised export sales plan resulted in steady growth with enquiries increasing from around the world.

Managing director Marc van der Voort says: “Sales outside Europe then increased to such an extent that they equalled the business in Scandinavia. A milestone was reached in 2011 with a four per cent increase in export sales.

“This was at a time of economic difficulties in the UK, making export increasingly significant for the overall success of the company.

“In recognition of this, a large focus has been placed on a multilingual approach in the creation of the website and in sales literature.

“Our markets are principally the construction, environmental protection, petrochemical, marine and offshore, defence and chemical-protection clothing industries. Recent customers in the UK include Kings Cross Station, Heathrow Terminal 5 and the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, but our products are sold worldwide with exports now accounting for about 30 per cent of our business.”