Bartec Auto ID

Automotive intelligence drives exports

An award winning company in South Yorkshire has made a dramatic transformation from UK supplier to competitive exporter in a short space of time.

Barnsley-based Bartec Auto ID is now working with some of the world’s leading automotive companies.

Having developed a system that reads radio frequency tyre pressure sensors and feeds the information to in-car computers to warn drivers of any problems, the company was all set to expand their markets. Now, with help from South Yorkshire International Trade Centre (SYITC), Bartec has succeeded in becoming a global automotive technology player.

After winning its first export order with Renault Motors in France in 1999, Bartec quickly realised its export potential and turned to UK Trade & Investment’s international trade team at SYITC for advice and support.

Says Colin Webb, Managing Director: "Along with other advice, the SYITC team suggested we apply for a grant from the Targeted Export Support (TES) fund which enables companies to aim new products at new markets. This grant helped us significantly boost our export sales in a very short time."

Export sales increased from £260,000 in 2001 to more than £700,000 within two years, with new orders from General Motors, Ford, Daimler-Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota. With significant interest from Japan, Bartec was encouraged to apply for a second TES grant, which it used to establish a presence in this key market.

Adds Colin Webb: "Our technology is becoming increasingly important to the motor industry and thanks to the SYITC team, we have been able to expand into key international markets, giving us a better access to the larger manufacturers and bringing long term growth in export sales."

Bartec now has its largest ever export order book as the US has recently passed the ‘Tread Act’ a statute making tyre pressure sensors a mandatory requirement on all passenger carrying vehicles.

With the continued support of UK Trade & Investment’s international trade team SYITC, Bartec has also invested in the development of its website and the launch of public relations and direct marketing campaigns which it hopes will advance its growth further.

In 2005 Bartec was one of only a handful of companies in Yorkshire and Humber to win the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.