Pictured above: (l-r) Steve Best with Andrew Fitzpatrick

A Warwickshire manufacturer, which already exports to every continent, is aiming to tap into a range of new markets across the globe.

The Tappex Group, which is based in Stratford-upon-Avon and employs around 50 staff, makes threaded inserts, bespoke fasteners and metal pressings that feature in a myriad of products from white goods and telephones to motor vehicles - including Formula One racing cars - and satellites.

The 54-year-old independent company has just relaunched its website - www.tappex.co.uk - with help from Coleshill-based IT specialists Acutec and now plans to bolster further sales in countries such as the USA and Canada.

Sales and marketing manager Andrew Fitzpatrick said the UK and the Midlands could still compete on a global scale by offering the highest quality in terms of both product and customer service.

He said: "We are trading across the world and have been for many years. We have had a presence in Western Europe for more than 20 years and we win orders from every corner of the earth. Around 70 per cent of our market is export.

"We are so well known in places such as China where companies which produce cheap imitations of our products still refer to them as a 'Tappex'.

"You can find our products in all manner of industrial and consumer product applications, globally recognised both on the ground and floating above the atmosphere in satellites.

"Our ethos is to provide the best possible service to customers by offering bespoke products to suit their requirements that can be installed into their own products at any stage of development."

Tappex has always been ahead of many other manufacturers when it comes to utilising the web and the latest updates carried out by Acutec will provide an even better window to the world.

Steve Best, Acutec's web development manager, has built the website using content management to provide a comprehensive product catalogue which includes content such as imagery, video and downloads. 

It can also be translated into just about any language to allow customers from overseas to browse.

But Steve has also given Tappex a competitive advantage over many of its competitors by ensuring it is extremely prominent in major search engines when web-users search for keywords such as 'thread inserts'.

Andrew added: "It was great to work with Steve. As an engineer I like to be able to give someone a specification and then they can break that down in a logical way and then build what we require.

"Acutec already look after our IT support and we are delighted with the new website - it looks and feels great but it also works extremely well and is full of information for current and potential customers."

Steve said more and more traditional companies were waking up to the power of the web.

He said: "Tappex have been ahead of the game in many ways when it comes to the internet and its power as a sales and information tool.

"This new website puts them at the forefront of their industry and the strength of their export sales proves they are known the world over.

"Other manufacturers in the region are realising the potential of the web, but there are still many out there who could draw huge business benefits by enhancing their presence on the worldwide web."

For more information on Acutec, view their website here: www.acutec.co.uk