Nl's Digital Futures Grows Export Market

A specialist in the custom design and supply of high-end digital movie and audio servers, Digital Future Solutions (DF Solutions) in Coleraine, Co Londonderry, has seen sales of its leading-edge products grow by 50% over the past year.

Assisted by Invest Northern Ireland, the broadcast sector business now sells almost all (98%) of its equipment outside Northern Ireland and over 65% beyond the British Isles.

In the past year, the company - which employs six people - has added customers for its sophisticated equipment, which sells from £1,000 to up to £2,500 in 16 export markets including Australia, New Zealand, Russia, India, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Chile and the Middle East.

DF Solutions Managing Director David Perry outlined the company's export achievements to Des Gartland, Invest NI North West Regional Office Manager during a recent visit with Mr Gartland commenting: "DF Solutions is an exceptional success story and is now a leading technology business.

"Over the past two years, exports have risen from just five per cent of turnover to reach a highly impressive 65% today. It has achieved this by very professional and highly effective marketing.

"It has become a tremendous role model of the type of export-led and technology-driven business that can help to transform the economy in the North West and across Northern Ireland.

"Our support has been shaped to enable the company to realise its potential in a developing home entertainment niche in which customers are prepared to pay a premium for really innovative technology," he added.

Company boss, David Perry said: "We develop integrated systems that enable users to access digital media from anywhere in the house. With an iPad or any mobile device, they can have an entire house at their fingertips.

"Our customer base includes everyone from world famous footballers down to those who simply want that something extra in their home.

"We have achieved one of our principal objectives - creating the very best technology products, at an affordable price," he said, noting that DF Solutions was formed in 2003, launched its first product a year later and has continued to invest in its leading-edge technology.

The company has extensive experience in home automation and computing fields with Invest NI assisting the company's development through several programmes.

(BMcC/GK)