Export is key for cell lock firm chosen for new China railway line

Leeds-based Pickersgill-Kaye provided the cell lock to door manufacturer Jardine Engineering, which is part of an international consortium, working on the first railway satellite police station on the route of the new Hong Kong-China Express Rail Link.

Pickersgill-Kaye’s sales director, Harry Griffiths, told The Yorkshire Post that he anticipated more work to come as further satellite police stations have been planned for locations along the Express Rail Link.

He said: “We were selected to supply the locks and there should be more to come because obviously they’re still building.

“Jardine are a massive company and we’re hoping to get involved with them again.”

This is the first time that the Leeds-based business has exported its custodial products into China.

This latest export boost helped Pickersgill-Kaye post sales of around £3m for the year ending November 2014, up 25 per cent on the last 12 months mainly thanks to a reviving UK market, while £638,300 was export business – with the company revealing that there are more major overseas projects in the pipeline.

Mr Griffiths said it was a delight to report the increase in sales despite the weak eurozone economy.

He added: “However, global sales make an important contribution to our business and we are confident of making further growth in this area during the forthcoming year on the rail and custodial product export side.”

Mr Griffiths told The Yorkshire Post that the company had an up and down past couple of years.

He said: “In 2013 we had one of our worst years and in 2014 we had one of our best years.”

The business hopes to carry on the momentum of the past year. “We’ve come back and we anticipate 2015 to maintain that upward trend,” he said.

In addition to China, Pickersgill-Kaye’s took orders from more than 12 different countries.