Partner Article

Berger dials into smartphone surge

THE rapid growth in sales of high tech devices such as the iPhone has helped a North East manufacturer to £400,000 worth of new deals with two international firms.

Berger Closures, based in Peterlee, County Durham, has enjoyed the double contract win on the back of the mass switchover among Europe and Asian customers from using standard mobile handsets to smartphones.

The company, which makes specialist fastenings for various industries, has recently diversified to make components used in the satellite telecoms sector.

The move has certainly paid off as the firm has landed a deal with Scandinavian packaging company, Emballator, to supply its plant in Yorkshire.

It has also won a contract with an unnamed international satellite parts manufacturers in a deal that – combined with the Emballator contract – is worth £400,000.

Berger Closures is part of the Berger Group, which has bases across Germany, France, Holland, Slovakia and Spain.

Richard Swart, managing director of Berger Group Europe, said: “The contracts have brought significant investment, and we expect more will follow. They will help us to safeguard existing jobs and possibly create another six. “We are now very optimistic for the next two years and these will help lift the doom and gloom of 2009 – though we are not out of the woods yet.”

Over the years, Berger has received support and assistance from the County Durham Development Company, the business support arm of Durham County Council. Greg Johnson, CDDC’s business team manager, said: “Berger’s willingness to diversify and invest is a great example of the adaptability businesses need to demonstrate in order to develop new products and capture new markets.”

James Ramsbotham, chief executive at the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), said: “This company has worked tirelessly and successfully to innovate and seek out new markets. They are a model for so many other businesses based here in the North East.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .