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Sperrin Metal Storage Solutions, the Draperstown-based specialist in storage systems, signed a contract worth around £300,000 during its participation with Invest Northern Ireland at the recent Arab Health, which was held in Dubai from 28-31 January.
The contract will see Sperrin Metal installing a mobile shelving system for archiving documents and other material in a Ministry of the Interior building at Doha in Qatar.
The new business in the Gulf was announced by Peter Gormley, Managing Director of Sperrin Metal, and welcomed by Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director. The company, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its formation, has received a range of assistance from Invest NI, including support for international marketing.
Mr Gormley said: "This is an extremely important deal that will further strengthen our presence in a region that we’ve operated in over many years. The initial approach came via the internet from a leading interior fit-out company in Dubai seeking an experienced Irish partner in the storage industry. They asked us if we’d be interested in working with them to develop the storage solution in Qatar.
"Taking part in Arab Health with Invest NI was also a cost-effective way to develop our relationship with the new customer and to meet other potential business contacts visiting the exhibition. Invest NI's assistance for our marketing has been invaluable over many years.
"We saw it as a tremendous opportunity to build business contacts in both Dubai and Qatar and responded quickly. We were able to use our vast knowledge of storage technology, gained over 50 years in the business, to design a solution that met the specific requirements of their prestigious customer in Qatar.
"An important feature of the contract is that it is with a major customer and not with an agent, which is usual practice in the Middle East. This direct contact makes it easier to deliver a project involving bespoke design and engineering. In addition, the agreement enables us to train their staff to install the shelving, thereby helping to reduce the costs if we had to send our own installation team to the Gulf."
