For the Welsh economy to thrive it needs more firms winning orders for their products and services overseas. And here we feature Welsh export champions that are doing just that by driving impressive growth in overseas markets ranging from medtech to manufacturing,
Health & Her
Last year Cardiff based female health brand, Health & Her, secured a string of new export deals across the US and China, as well as entering the UAE market for the first time. Founded by Kate Bache and Gervase Fay in 2019, Health & Her delivers a range of supplements to help women as they experience hormonal changes, relating to menstruation, perimenopause and menopause.
The US is now the company’s largest export market after it signed a deal with one of the largest pharmacy chains in the US, as well as Vitamin Shoppe, a wellness retailer which has over 700 stores.
The expansion into the $40bn supplement market in the US was immediately transformative for the brand, taking US revenue from 5% to 8% of overall turnover within just a few months.
Bee Robotics
Caernarfon-based biotech company, Bee Robotics recently signed a deal with a leading biotech firm in the Middle East, which will see its products used in the automation of allergy testing.
Th company designs and manufactures robotic instruments that handle liquids for the biotechnology industry, such as allergy and tuberculosis testing. With the Middle Eastern and African allergy markets growing rapidly, the company sees entry into the region as a key route to achieving growth.
The new trade partnership comes after Bee Robotics met with representatives from the region at MEDICA, the world’s leading medical exhibition in Germany, which it attended as part of a Welsh Government trade mission.
Tomoe Valve
In 2024 Newport based manufacturing firm Tomoe Valve saw its turnover skyrocket by 20% to £6m after it secured several international deals due to hugely increased demand for its high performance butterfly valves.
The company is eyeing expansion in the US as a primary route to international growth, having recently landed a £1.6m contract with a US government funded project in Washington state.
The deal will see up to 80 valves installed at one of the world’s largest factories for advanced silicon battery materials which are primarily used in the production of electric vehicles, buses, trucks, consumer electronics and electric flight. In recent months, Tomoe Valve has also secured an order worth almost £1m in Japan for valves that will be used in water treatment facilities.
TrakCel
Over the last twelve months Cardiff-based cell orchestration company, TrakCel, a leading provider of digital supply chain tracking and management solutions for the cell and gene therapies sector, has secured contracts with four US-based biopharmaceutical companies, generating millions of dollars in new revenue.
The deals are for commercially approved cell and gene therapies for conditions like sickle cell, B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, metastatic synovial sarcoma and recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
The company has experienced a consistent upward trajectory of sales to America, with exports to the US having increased from 65% to 84% of its trade over the past five years. This growth has led to the firm opening a base in the US to provide localised sales and operational support. Following the deals, TrakCel is now the largest independent provider of cell orchestration solutions to the cell and gene therapy sector in the world, supporting more than 20+ therapies globally.
Zip -Clip
2024 was a big year for award-winning Welshpool manufacturer, Zip-Clip, who secured a string of new export deals around the world in territories including New Zealand, Pakistan and Mexico.
The firm, which designs and manufactures high-specification wire suspension and bracing solutions for an ever-increasing range of applications and sectors, including electrical, mechanical, heating, ventilation, construction and seismic, has worked on flagship projects, including the 2012 Olympics, World Cup stadiums in Qatar, Amazon datacentres and London’s new US Embassy.
The Welshpool-based company exports to over forty countries, with exports accounting for 50% of turnover.
Ruth Lee
Ruth Lee is a world-leading supplier of manikins and training aids utilised by rescue training experts across the world. Designed and manufactured in Corwen, the manikins are primarily used by the military, fire and water rescue services and healthcare sectors.
Recently the family run company announced that it was on track to reach record sales of over £4m thanks to recent export success, specifically in the US for its patient handling and bariatric plus size manikins, largely due to the litigious nature of its healthcare sector, where patient handling is a legally fraught area.
Additional success has been found in the Canadian water rescue market, specifically for the company’s pool rescue manikin, which recently won the King’s Award for Innovation. The product is shipped around the world to over thirty countries.
RM Group
In early 2022 Powys manufacturing firm RM Group opened offices in Delaware, a move which has since yielded major rewards as the company has recently announced a string of new deals in the US, in states including Illinois, Arkansas and Utah.
The company, which is based in Newtown, designs and builds both manual and automated machinery used to process and package items for sectors including food and drink, construction, energy, utilities and general industry.
One recent deal with a US automation company, sees RM Group equipment being sold to clients across the Utah belt in a deal that is forecast to be worth up to £10m over the next five years.
And in Chicago, another deal includes the development of an innovative £750,000 mobile packing plant made from shipping containers to create a modular factory, for another client operating in the industrial salt sector, Midwest Salt.
Makefast
Following the opening of its dedicated US office in Maryland in 2023, Welsh marine equipment manufacturer, Makefast, has since secured over $5m in revenue from US deals alone in its first 12 months of US based operations.
Based in Newtown, Powys, Makefast Group designs and manufactures equipment for the marine and safety industries, as well as systems for super yachts and luxury boats including retractable sunroofs, awning units, and bathing platforms. Following their US success Makefast has now set its sights on opening an additional office in its second largest market, the EU, to replicate the success of its US base, further growing its international sales.
Exports currently account for two thirds of Makefast’s trade – equating to £1.2m year on year growth.
Jones Village Bakery
Leading bakery Jones Village Bakery is creating 50 new jobs after landing new contracts in the Middle East and Australia. The Wrexham-based business said its exports are forecast to break the £10m mark. Other recent export deals include supplying gluten-free products to seven Gulf States in the Middle East.
Last year it started shipping products to Australia where the company’s pancakes are being sold across the country. The bakery is also experiencing surging demand from Europe, particularly in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland.
It is also supplying a worldwide network of around 200 M&S stores – as far afield as Hong Kong, Singapore and the Middle East – which are selling its crumpets, scones, pancakes, bagels, rolls, Welsh Cakes and pikelets.
Finalrentals
Cardiff-based car rental tech venture Finalrentals is accelerating its global client base.
Over the last year it has increased its global partner network to more than 500 car rental providers in 30 plus countries.
It recently successfully raised a six-figure investment in a pre-Series A round that will enhance its AI-driven automation, accelerate product development, and expand its international footprint, targeting key markets in Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
The car rental sector is worth $100bn globally with Finalrentals well positioned as a key disruptor, bridging the gap between local rental businesses and global travellers through its innovative tech platform.
It comes as it has also expanded into the lucrative UAE marketplace in a partnership with car rental provider Autorent.
