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Smiley Monroe reports
123% growth in exports
Smiley Monroe, the Lisburn-based specialist manufacturer of conveyor belting and screens has used Invest
Northern Ireland assistance to achieve a record 123 per cent growth in exports over the past year.
The company has taken part
in Invest NI trade initiatives
including participation at the
recent International Quarrying
and Recycling Exhibition at
Buxton in Derbyshire, to develop
contacts that have led to
new business in key markets
such as the US and India.
Smiley Monroe also received
advice and support in establishing
an office near Bangalore in
India to develop interest there
in its range of products for the
materials handling industry.
The company’s export
achievements were announced
by Vaughan Monroe, Managing
Director of Smiley Monroe,
based at Knockmore Business
Park in Lisburn, and welcomed
by Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade
Director, who said: “This is an
immensely important achievement
by a company operating in a
highly competitive marketplace
and against a difficult global
business environment.
“The success is based on a
strategic focus on existing
and potential clients in both
established markets such as
the US and Europe and also
developing nations especially India.
“The company has recognised
that growth is possible by
strategically investing resources
in developing the closest possible
relationships with customers,
both existing and potential, to
understand their business and
their individual requirements. This
approach enables Smiley Monroe
to respond quickly and effectively
to their specific requirements.
“In addition, the company
has strengthened its global
competitiveness by investing in
innovation particularly in new
products,” Dr Kell added.
Mr Monroe said: “Our products
perform every day in the toughest
applications and in the most
challenging markets; from the
UK and Ireland to Europe, US,
Canada, Africa, Australasia
and now India, where we have
recently established an office.
“We have taken part in a number
of Invest NI trade initiatives,
including exhibitions in the US,
UK and India, to enable us to
exploit market opportunities
in markets such as India. By
staying in touch with markets
and particularly customers
we’ve been able to respond
quickly to their requirements
and to develop highly innovative
solutions for them.
“For instance, the conveyor
improvement products and
services that we showcasedat
Hillhead demonstrate our
commitment to helping our
customers meet their targets
for efficiency, safety and
environmental compliance.
“The new products are the
latest extension to our portfolio
developed over 30 years in
providing solutions to customers
in the specific areas of conveying
and screening and in industries
as diverse as quarrying, mining,
recycling, cement, coal-fired power
stations, fertiliser and ports. The
new products also included a
modular conveyor belt cleaner,
‘Belt Buddy’ rapid repair resin for
rubber conveyor belts and tyres
and a new range of vulcanising
materials and equipment.”
BBA Grants Agrément Certification
for Redi-Rock Walls
The British Board of AgrŽm ent (BBA) has granted an AgrŽm ent Certificate to Redi-Rock International
for Redi-Rock Gravity Retaining Wall and Free Standing Wall Systems; Ballymena-based Moore
Concrete Products Ltd is the exclusive Redi-Rock manufacturer and retailer for Ireland.
The Redi-Rock Gravity Retaining
Wall System utilizes massive,
1134 kg concrete modular
blocks that allow tall retaining
walls to be built without geogrid
reinforcement—saving time
and money on the installation
phase of the project. Redi-Rock
Gravity Walls are an efficient
solution for transportation
projects, building close to
property lines, commercial
developments, storm channels,
and even residential projects.
In addition, it’s easy to vary
the batter of Redi-Rock Gravity
Retaining Walls to achieve the
project’s goals. Options include
zero degree batter, standard
5 degree batter, or creating a
custom batter by incorporating
one or more courses of 238 mm
Setback blocks or Planter blocks.
The BBA Certificate includes
Redi-Rock architectural stone
faces including the Cobblestone
and Limestone textures. These
textures give walls a natural
aesthetic to match small
or large scale projects.
Plant & Civil EnginEER
News pgs.indd 41 18/07/2012 14:47
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