Derbyshire based company Cooper Research Technology has seen a
significant growth in its export markets thanks to the help and
support of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).
Based in Ripley, Cooper Research Technology designs and
manufactures high performance testing equipment for asphaltic and
unbound materials used in highway construction.
They have an impressive overseas client portfolio with around 80
per cent of business coming from the export market, enabling users
to test pavement material for mechanical properties such as
stiffness modulus, fatigue and permanent deformation.
Established in 1990, Cooper Research Technology was the brain
child of the now semi retired Chairman Keith Cooper, who designed
the company's first revolutionary piece of testing equipment at the
University of Nottingham.
Nowadays, the day to day running of the business is the
responsibility of eldest son, Andrew Cooper who has taken the
business from strength to strength.
Since working with UKTI, Cooper Research Technology has set up a
subsidiary business in China after receiving expert help and advice
from the Passport to Export Programme at UKTI and won an EEF award
in acknowledgment of their achievements.
Pete Grafton, Managing Director at Cooper Research Technology
said: "Entering the Chinese market was totally unfamiliar territory
for us. I don't know what we would have done without the help and
support of UKTI.
"Our International Trade Advisor put us in touch with the right
contacts and directed us through the best routes to reach our
export market.
"We are continually looking to further develop our company and I
am sure that we will use UKTI in the future."
Gordon Binnie, International Trade Advisor at UKTI East Midlands
said: "I have worked closely with Pete and seen how dedicated he
and his team are to the success of their business.
"The team at Cooper Research Technology are really reaping the
fruits of their labour; they fully embraced all help on offer and
have maintained their heavily proactive approach."