Finnish Export Success For Engineering Firm

Robert Craig and Sons, a Lisburn  specialist in industrial pumps for  130 years, has won its first export  business in Finland for a unique  fuel polishing system.  The company won initial business  in the Baltic region from a leading  distributor of standby generators  based in Helsinki, the Finnish  capital. The polishing system,  developed by the Northern  Ireland company in partnership  with an English manufacturer of  fuel filters, eliminates the threat to  the environment from diesel fuel  that has deteriorated and may  have ended up being dumped.  The contract was announced by  David Craig, Managing Director of  Robert Craig, and welcomed by  Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade  Director, during a visit to the firm’s  premises at Knockmore Hill  Industrial Estate.  Dr Kell said: “Finland is a market  that we’ve identified as offering  considerable scope for Northern  Ireland exporters especially in  technology-led sectors including  environmental engineering and  clean technology.  “The focus on these sectors is  evident in Finland and many other  markets in the Nordic/Baltic  region. With a close proximity to  the Baltic States and especially  Russia, Finland represents a  strategic gateway to these  important and growing markets.  Mr Craig said: “We believe this  deal will provide a platform for us  in neighbouring markets,  countries in which our Helsinki  dealer has business. It follows our  success last year in securing our  first export sales in the  Netherlands. Our system is ideal  for markets which are committed  to strict environmental controls.  “What our system does is to  eliminate organisms which can  develop in diesel oil that’s been  left in the fuel tanks of standby or  portable electricity generators.  Water can drip into the fuel which  results in the diesel deteriorating  and often leads to the contents  having to be dumped. Our system  offers an effective solution to this  problem. Over the next few years,  we aim to be exporting the  system to customers in at least  ten international markets.”