Case studies: SHOWCASING INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

Road to success ASI Solutions | Milton Keynes

UK company ASI Solutions, which designs, manufactures and sells specialist materials to treat the asphalt surfaces of highways and runways, has signed an agreement worth around £100m with HUALI, a wholly owned subsidiary of the China Highway Engineering Consulting Group Company (CHECSC). It will support China’s infrastructure development plans, via

ASI Solutions’ key product, Rhinophalt, which protects against road-surface deterioration caused by weather and high traffi c volumes. HRH the Duke of York, Special Representative for Trade and Investment, who witnessed the signing in Beijing, said: “This type of collaboration shows exactly the type of mutual benefi t that both UK fi rms and China can realise as partners for growth. As the Chinese economy continues on its impressive path to growth, UK fi rms are bringing their world-class expertise and innovative solutions to support this.

“UK fi rms are renowned in sectors such as infrastructure

and the opportunities across high-value projects are signifi cant. I hope to see more UK fi rms doing business across the whole of China, including in its fast-developing regional cities.” Sales and marketing director Barrie Simpson said: “ASI views

this agreement as extremely important in its international growth, presenting a signifi cant opportunity to export its technology, innovation and products into a world-leading and rapidly expanding market. At the same time, it is proud to be working in partnership with a highly respected organisation such as CHECSC, seeking to ensure that China realises best value from its substantial transport infrastructure investments.” ASI Solutions also has clients in Australia, Germany, Iceland, India, the Middle East and Spain. www.asiplc.com

Speaking your language TranslateMedia | London

In two years, global translation agency TranslateMedia has increased sales by 400 per cent, from $500k to £2.5m in 2010, doubled its staff and opened offi ces in New York, Munich, Hong Kong and Brussels. It has developed a unique portal to connect clients to its translators and employs more than 5,000 specialist translators covering 85 languages. CEO Patrick Eve explains that the

London agency had global ambitions from the outset. “We’d always planned to export,” he states. “We wanted to be able to provide our language and translation services to larger clients with a presence in local markets. Exporting allows us to meet client needs locally and internationally.”

springboard: | page 40 springboard: | page 40 TranslateMedia commissioned a

number of Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) reports from UK Trade & Investment in key territories. Eve says: “We accessed the Export Marketing Research Service on the back of success with OMIS in Vienna and New York, where we met clients, researched opportunities and considered logistical arrangements.” TranslateMedia has secured long-

term agreements with UNDP, UNICEF, the International Trade Centre and the UNHCR. It is an accredited supplier to more than 10 UN-related organisations, and has leveraged this among private- sector companies in the legal and fi nancial services sector.

Eve concludes: “We are interested in

consolidating our position in existing markets, as well as exploring different sectors in New York, and possibly expanding into Europe by commissioning OMIS reports for Germany and the Netherlands. We are keen to use UK Trade & Investment for highly sector-specifi c research.” www.translatemedia.com