Image of Chris Haritou, Managing Director at ABFAD Ltd

Sunderland Firm Fuelling its International Ambitions

Company Name: ABFAD Ltd

A Sunderland firm is fuelling its international ambitions with the help of UK Trade & Investment’s Gateway to Global Growth (G3) initiative.

ABFAD Ltd specialises in the construction, repair and maintenance of fuel and chemical tanks and prides itself on providing solutions for clients and industries with major problems such as environmental protection from leaking tanks.

The company has already built up a strong reputation in the oil industry, repairing leaking fuel tanks in petrol stations working for companies such as BP, Shell, Total, Sainsbury and others.

Keen to explore the potential in overseas markets, particularly in Europe, the company enlisted the support of UK Trade & investment, drawing on Passport to Export and an Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) report.

Now the company has signed up to the G3 programme in a bid to develop its business further in France.

Chris Haritou, Managing Director at ABFAD Ltd, explained:

“With the help of UK Trade & Investment we’ve been able to look at several European markets and the requirements that are needed for us to operate in this sector and we’re now about to finalise our accreditation of FUELVAC® Double Skin Tank Lining system against the European Tank Lining Standard BS EN 13160 allowing us to work across Europe.

“We’ve also been working closely with BP and Total with a view of exporting FUELVAC® through approved licensees in Europe which may result in substantial expansion for the company.

“With the assistance of UKTI, ABFAD Ltd management finally believe that we can make a difference with our unique technology and provide a tank lining protection system that not only is safe to apply for installers but makes the difference to the environment through the solvent-free products we apply as the fuel resistant barrier (no volatile organic compounds). And with the containment of fuel fully secure in the tank through FUELVAC® we’re protecting our precious water supplies from being contaminated through tank leaks to ground water.”

Willem Van Hoorn, one of UK Trade & Investment’s International Trade Advisers, who has been working with the company, said:

“ABFAD has developed its unique process for repairing fuel tanks in-house over several years and is now well placed to exploit their knowledge and expertise in other markets.

“Gateway to Global Growth (G3) and Passport are designed to offer tailor-made packages to help companies, with G3 providing experienced exporters a more sophisticated level of support while OMIS offers a range of levels of service to suit an individual company’s needs.

“Now more than ever companies should be looking to new markets, taking advantage of the favourable exchange rates and preparing themselves for when the economy recovers and UKTI is here to help every step of the way.”

International trade support services in the North East are financed in part by the European Unions ERDF Competitiveness programme 2007-13, securing £5,999,216 of ERDF investment through regional development agency One North East. The ERDF Competitiveness programme 2007-13 is investing over £250m in North East England to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.

For more information about G3, Passport, OMIS and the wide range of support services available through UK Trade & Investment to help your company succeed overseas call the North East International Trade Hotline on 0845 05 05 054 or email: enquiries@ukti.rito.co.uk.