Yorkshire firm to supply air conditioning tech for new £18bn metro system in Saudi Arabia

Manufacturer Airedale International Air Conditioning has landed a seven-figure export order in the Middle East.

The deal, worth £1m, will see the company supplying specialised air conditioning technology for the new metro system in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh.

The firm’s ‘EasiCool’ units will be used to cool server rooms in the new metro stations, being built as part of a £18bn development that includes six lines, 85 stations and tracks spanning 110 miles.

Phase one of the new Riyadh metro is due to open next year.

Airedale export sales manager Asim Ansari said: “This is a fantastic contract win for us, on a huge and very high profile project.

“Exports now make up around 30% of our sales at Airedale and we have been growing our presence in the Middle East over the last few years, after establishing an office in Dubai in 2014.”

He added: “This has allowed us to strengthen partnerships in the region, in this case with Saudi Temco, SETRA and the BACS Consortium, which are heavily involved with the design and construction of the project.”

Speaking further, Asim said the reputation of British goods in the Middle East has helped boost the firm’s export strategy.

He continued: “The made-in-Britain pedigree carries a lot of influence. UK-engineered goods have become synonymous with the highest quality and continued technical innovation.”

Airedale employs more than 400 people at its production facility in Rawdon, Leeds. The firm was acquired in 2005 by American thermal management business Modine.

It is a member of the Leeds City Region-based network ExportExchange, which is backed by the European Regional Development Fund and supported by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, the Department for International Trade and various private sector export specialists.

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