Hainsworth goes global to spread its textile word

The company is sending staff to exhibit at trade shows in places like Dubai, Florida and Germany as it seeks to expand beyond its traditional UK and European customer base.

Tom Hainsworth, the managing director, told the Yorkshire Post: “We have identified specific market regions where our technology will be competitive and is better than the local competition. We are targeting partners and key end users.”

The Pudsey-based group has sales of £14m and sells diverse textile products including ceremonial uniform, snooker cloth, piano baize, blankets and woollen coffins.

But it is the £3.5m line in protective textiles that will be the focus of the new marketing initiative.

Mr Hainsworth, 43, said: “We have unique technology in the area of protective textiles, which we have patented.

“In the past we have won various innovation awards for that technology.

“Now with the global economy as it is, we have realised we have to start really promoting that technology elsewhere to maximise sales where we can really add value.”

Mr Hainsworth is a chemical engineer by training and has been MD for the last 10 years.

He said: “We are one of the global leaders in providing textiles for protection against heat and flame for the emergency services.”

The company takes its raw material, the composite fibres Nomex and Kevlar, and puts these together using a patented construction process, which maximises breathability allowing its wearer to stay cool.

This is vital for firefighters, who face their biggest safety risk from heat stress.

But in the event of a flashover – the simultaneous ignition of all combustible material in a closed area – the fabric ‘blocks’ the flame and heat, protecting the wearer.

Mr Hainsworth said: “It’s that ability to create intelligent textiles which is what we really want to promote globally.”

He is signing up licensed partners who understand his products and know how to sell them to end users.

Hainsworth already exports to between 50-60 countries with international sales contributing between 60-70 per cent of turnover. It employs 190 people.

“We are looking to grow further,” said Mr Hainsworth.

He said that British manufacturing is “still perceived as being extremely innovative and we are certainly seen as innovation leaders in our areas”.

He added: “We are in a global market place so we are not the cheapest so we need that leadership position.”

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