Award-winning mid-Wales manufacturer, Zip-Clip, have signed an exclusivity deal with HBA Private Trading & Contracting for the distribution of the Zip-Clip range throughout Qatar.
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Zip-Clip, which manufactures suspension systems for electrical, mechanical, heating and ventilation industries at its premises in Welshpool, Powys, was founded in 2004 and exports its products to more than 50 clients across over 30 countries, including America, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The prestigious Qatari deal with His Highness Sheikh Hamad Ahmed S. J. Al Thani’s company, HBA Private Trading & Contracting is the result of five years of hard work from the mid Wales firm which began in 2014 when Zip Clip attended a Welsh Government led trade mission to Qatar.
As a result of this mission, Zip-Clip had their products approved by the Arab Engineering Bureau for use in the Msheireb Heritage Museum project. Zip-Clip were given a brief to find a way of suspending projectors in a number of the new museums built in the cultural quarter that have traditional Qatari wicker ceilings. As nothing could be fixed to these ceilings the company had to design and develop a special system to overcome this.
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Further to the completion of this project, Zip-Clip was approached by HBA Private Trading & Contracting to distribute the Zip-Clip products throughout Qatar.
August 2018 saw a delegation from HBA Private Trading & Contracting, including His Highness Sheikh Hamad Ahmed S. J. Al Thani, visit the Zip-Clip offices and factory in Welshpool. This was followed in February 2019 by a Middle Eastern visit by Steve Goldsworthy, Zip-Clip CEO to HBA Private Trading & Contracting.
As a result of these visits, Zip-Clip and HBA Private Trading & Contracting have now signed an exclusivity agreement for the distribution of the Zip-Clip range throughout Qatar.
Steve Goldsworthy, Zip-Clip CEO said: “It is a pleasure to be in partnership with HBA Private Trading and Contracting. Zip-Clip strive to work with only the elite companies in the market and it is a pleasure to be working with such an enthusiastic and driven business which adopts the same ethos as the rest of Zip-Clip’s global partners. With our recent appointment it allows Zip-Clip’s brand to grow and expand our global reach.
“It is a privilege and an honour to be included in this business collaboration with His Highness Sheikh Hamad Ahmed S. J. Al Thani’s business empire.
“I wish His Highness Sheikh Hamad Ahmed S. J. Al Thani and his commercial team all the success and prosperity in the future.”
Welsh Government Minister for International Relations, Eluned Morgan, said: “This is great news for Zip-Clip and for Mid-Wales. It is fantastic to see innovative products, made in Wales, being used in Qatar and markets across the world. I am pleased that Welsh Government has been able to help Zip-Clip to grow its exports and I am determined to ensure that the Welsh Government continues to support Welsh companies such as Zip-Clip to export their goods and services.”
Exports now account for 40% of Zip-Clip’s turnover and the company aims to increase this figure to 60% by 2020 through new export contracts.
Looking ahead the company is due to be involved in a number of high-profile projects including the FIFA World Cup 2022 stadiums currently being constructed in Qatar. This follows involvement in landmark architectural projects including London’s Olympic Park, the revamped BBC Television Centre and American Embassy, as well as Ski Dubai and Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi.
The business has seen significant growth in recent years, with five new employees having joined the firm in 2019 alone, bringing its headcount up to 45 staff.
