A Northants motorsports firm that supplies technology for high performing vehicles has raced ahead in overseas sales – with expert help from UKTI.

Variohm-Eurosensor, based in Towcester, says that £2m of its annual turnover now comes from export markets.

The company is an electronic component distributor for specialist sensors and transducers, which provide detailed analysis of a racing car or bike’s performance on the track.

They also branched out into cinema when they supplied equipment to the set of the James Bond blockbuster, Casino Royale.

The film’s spectacular climax involved a Venetian palazzo collapsing into water. Variohm provided motion sensors and animatronic applications that made the special effects possible, giving the crew an accurate picture of the progress of the sinking weight during the demolition.

Variohm was set up in 1974 and merged with EuroSensor in 2002, which brought on the creation of a new export department.

They now trade successfully in Europe and America, and boast clients in all levels of the racing industry, from small clubs to Formula One.

Variohm-EuroSensor was among businesses that took part in an exclusive European trade exhibition last November in Cologne where motorsport professionals, teams, driver and support crews could meet potential buyers one-to-one. The trip was arranged by UKTI, the export-import advice service run by the Government.

Martin Paul, export sales director for Variohm EuroSensor, says trading in foreign markets has been vital to the firm's development.

He said: "Exporting has been crucial for us. It’s a larger proportion of our business every year and the exporting industry in motorsports is growing every year.

"Anyone who turns their back on the States, in particular, is silly because the potential for businesses out there is phenomenal. It’s a key factor in our group’s growth and has been a fantastic proving ground for our product.”

Mr Paul paid tribute to the help he received from UKTI: “We’ve worked with UKTI for a number of years and they’ve helped substantially towards our success. We’ve taken part in the ‘meet the buyer’ sessions, and they’ve assisted us in finding new distributors."

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