Pictured above: International trade adviser Karine Barateau is pictured with Gary Seale, managing director of Cobra.

A Shropshire automotive manufacturer is fighting back to beat the recession, with help from UK Trade & Investment.

Cobra makes products for the automotive interior sector, including Volvo, the VW/Audi group and General Motors, at a factory in Waymills Industrial Estate, Whitchurch.

After unprecedented growth and receiving numerous business awards, a year ago the company was gripped by the global economic downturn, which reduced its order books by 90 per cent, with luxury vehicles worst affected.

But it fought back with new products and help from UK Trade & Investment - the Government organisation that helps British firms develop their international trade - and is on course to increase its turnover by at least 70 per cent this year.

Cobra won a major order to provide safety barrier nets, which it developed through an innovation grant from Advantage West Midlands, for a Swedish car manufacturer following a market visit with UK Trade & Investment. The business is worth approximately €8m [euro] over seven years.

Now, the company is moving into the aviation industry with a lightweight airline seat which can also be used in the railway sector and, by virtue of the design, at venues such as football grounds. 

Cobra attended a UK Trade & Investment Aerospace Cluster visit to the MAKS air show near Moscow in August and has just signed a letter of agreement with two of Russia's largest aircraft makers, the first stage in a process which could lead to potential sales of over £150m.

Managing director Gary Seale said: "About 80 per cent of our annual turnover, which was £2.35m last year, is export business. We expect our turnover to rise to at least £4m next year and the vast majority of this will be for overseas clients.

"We have worked with UK Trade & Investment for a number of years, firstly through the Passport to Export programme for new exporters, and have continued with market visit support.

"The service provided is excellent - for instance, the visit to Russia was a very professionally organised event with very useful overviews from legal, employment, regulatory, taxation and industry specialists in the market.

"The use of UK Trade & Investment's brand was, I believe, paramount in very high profile Russian companies accepting invitations to discuss potential collaboration."

Shropshire international trade adviser Karine Barateau said: "Gary Seale and his team have always been proactive and have diversified into different sectors at the right time. UK Trade & Investment has helped by providing the necessary tools for companies to succeed overseas, such as support for market visits."

Established in 2002, Cobra has 37 employees and relocated its main headquarters to Buttington Cross, Welshpool earlier this year to provide more space for future expansion.

After reducing its workforce by four in October, it has since taken on five additional production staff and two indirect design programme management staff.