Barnsley spray gun manufacturer targets US market with new funding

A Barnsley manufacturer will now be able to export products to consumers in the US and Canada after securing significant funding from Finance Yorkshire.

Static Solutions, which manufactures anti-static paint spray guns for a range of industries, has acquired a £55k Business Loan from the regional funding body.

With this investment, the manufacturer will purchase tooling for a new product, an anti-static ionising gun specifically for the automotive market in the US and Canada.

This loan is the third time Finance Yorkshire has invested in the business since becoming established in 2003.

Over the past twelve years, Static Solutions has developed a range of unique products which reduce the impact of static electricity in manufacturing industries. In the automotive sector, the company’s ionising systems eliminate costly re-work by removing dust and dirt inclusions resulting from the static generated by the paint finishing process.

As of now, Finance Yorkshire is responsible for creating and safeguarding 9,656 jobs across Yorkshire and the Humber, as well as increasing turnover by £280m and generating private sector leverage of £173m.

Vicky Hirst, Static Solutions’ commercial director, said: “The capital from Finance Yorkshire will assist with tooling and patent costs for the Pro-Start, a smaller, more cost-effective version of our existing spray gun. It is aimed specifically at the US and Canadian automotive markets, where there is a growing awareness of the problems caused by static, and the imperfect finish it causes.

“There are well over 30,000 body shops in the US, so the potential for a product which reduces costly re-work, is clear to see. The adverse effects of static in the paint-finishing process haven’t really been understood or realised, but that is now starting to change, both here in the UK and overseas, and we are confident of the demand for our product.

“To date we have sold around 800 anti-static guns to body shops in the UK and plan to introduce the Pro-Start here within the next 18 months.”

Alex McWhirter, Finance Yorkshire chief executive, added: “Our Business Loan investments enable SMEs across the region to achieve business success through job creation and growth. Our latest investment in Static Solutions demonstrates the valuable role Finance Yorkshire plays in supporting innovation and business growth across a range of sectors including manufacturing.”

David Ward, Finance Yorkshire portfolio manager, also commented: “Static Solutions has shown steady and consistent growth since its formation, with an innovative range of products which bring real cost and productivity benefits to the end-user. We are confident that the new Pro-Start gun, with its size and cost advantages, will be very successful, both here in the UK and in the US and Canada.”