Local Engineering Company Makes Splash In Germany

Portadown company F3 Engineering Ltd has recently secured a deal to supply its innovative ice bathing product, the POD, to the Olympic Training Centre in Frankfurt, Germany.

The POD is part of the company's F3 HydroPool range, which was developed with assistance from Invest Northern Ireland.

It is F3 Engineering's first contract outside the UK and came as a result of attending the International Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports and Pool Facilities in Cologne in October 2011.

As part of wider assistance for marketing, Invest NI supported the company to attend the exhibition which gave F3 Engineering access to key suppliers, distributors, decision makers, opinion leaders and influencers.

Mark Bleakney, Manager of Invest NI's Southern Regional Office, said: "We've been working with F3 Engineering for a number of years to help it develop and market the HydroPool range. This export success will raise the company's profile in the European market and act as a springboard towards further sales."

The HydroPool products are temperature controlled baths used by amateur and professional sports individuals, teams, clubs and organisations to aid muscular recovery after intense activity.

F3 Engineering currently employs 34 and is planning to recruit six more staff over the next three years as sales of the HydroPool products ramp up.

Alan Boal, Operations Director at F3 Engineering Ltd, said: "At the inception of our F3 HydroPool range we envisioned our products being used in international markets as we believed they, especially the POD, ticked all the boxes for exporting. With this sale to Germany this vision is now a reality.

"We would like to thank Invest NI for its invaluable support. We perceive this as just the beginning and hope to enhance our relationship with Invest NI as its continued support will be vital to our future exporting success."

(CD/GK)