Double award winning firm lights up export markets

A County Durham firm is celebrating winning a brace of awards for its innovative products and approach to exporting.

Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd won the Expanded Horizons category at the North East Exporters Awards 2012 for demonstrating its success in seeking and identifying new markets and securing new business.

In the same week one of its products was judged best new product at the annual SEMICON West exhibition in San Francisco - the flagship annual event for the global microelectronics industry.

The company, which is based at Belmont Business Park, supplies x-ray metrology tools for use in the semiconductor and LED markets.

Paul Ryan, UK Site Manager and Corporate Vice President at Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd, said: “The Expanded Horizons award was a result of looking at other markets we could reach with our products such as solar markets. The LED market is growing very quickly but is still quite a niche market.

“We also looked at the traditional compound semiconductor market to identify what the market needed in order to provide products that no one else can. We focused on helping companies with their quality control and solving the issues suppliers faced.

“Some of the processes used include heating wafers very quickly at high temperatures and cracks can appear. Some of these wafers can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars so to break one is a big problem.”

That is how Jordan Valley came to develop the QC-TT defect inspection system which won the 2012 "Best of West" award at the SEMICON West exhibition, singling it out as the best new product in the semiconductor industry. It is the second time in three years that Jordan Valley has won this award.

Jordan Valley exports to China, Taiwan, India, US, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Europe, however, represents its smallest market. Paul says: "We actually did exporting backwards! We started out looking at where the market was and what opportunities there were and they were in China. Now we are looking to develop exports in the European and domestic market."

Paul's advice to potential international exporters is not to feel daunted by the China market. He said: "I would encourage anyone who has an international product to look everywhere. To be honest, it is just as hard to export to America as it is China. Although we share a common language, with the US you still need to have the same licences and be paid through international banks.

“You need to get some sensible advice which is where UKTI comes in, especially with the China Team here in the North East. We are also a member of UKTI's China Networking Club and try to get to the meetings when we can."

Geoff Young, one of UK Trade & Investment’s International Trade Advisers, worked closely with the company alongside Dr Zhengming Yang, China Team Business Development Manager.

Yang said: “Jordan Valley has had great success in the China market and we are delighted to have been able to assist them with this and we congratulate them on winning both of their prestigious awards.

“As a member of our China Networking Club, Jordan Valley shares ideas and experience of this market with other local companies through regular meetings and networking events and we would be delighted to welcome more members.”

The next meeting of the China Networking Club (North East) will take place on Monday, 10 September 2012, 12-2.30pm at North East Business and Innovation Centre, Sunderland. Li Chenguang, Trade & Investment Officer at the British Consulate-General in Shanghai will provide up-to-date knowledge of the marketplace and give a presentation on exploring business opportunities in East China and in particular, organisations who operate within the automotive sector. The event is free but places must be booked in advance via the North East International Trade Hotline 0845 05 05 054 or email enquiries@uktinortheast.org.uk

UKTI is also organising a Market Visit to Shanghai and Shenyang, from 8 to 16 December, in conjunction with the British Consulate General Shanghai and China Britain Business Council.

Contacts

For more information about the wide range of support services available through UK Trade & Investment to help your company succeed overseas contacts:

North East International Trade Team

Tel: +44 (0) 845 05 05 054

Email: enquiries@uktinortheast.org.uk

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