The Brock Metal Company

The Brock Metal Company, based in Norton Canes, Cannock, manufactures Zinc and Aluminium alloy ingots for use in the foundry and die-casting industries. Employing a workforce of over seventy people, the company now supplies metal alloys across Europe thanks to help from UK Trade and Investment and an export communications review (ECR).

Picture of Brock Metal Company building

The Brock Metal Company, established in 1947, exports mainly to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey. They have encountered language barriers in many of these countries due to the difficulty in explaining technicalities and dealing with different payment methods.

To get around these barriers, Brock Metal have used local agents in Germany and Turkey to overcome cultural differences, commissioned an export communications review to help develop an effective communications strategy and carried out some language training. For example, the European Sales Director took a course in French to enable him to communicate effectively with and gain new customers.

“Development of the French market would have been virtually impossible for Brock, without the ability to communicate accurately in the customer’s own language. Our commitment to this use of the customer’s language has, in this instance, allowed us to develop new contacts and a better understanding of their specific requirements.” John Titley, Technical Sales Director.

Since implementing language skills and following the advice of their ECR consultant, The Brock Metal Company have seen exports increase dramatically over the last twelve months; this increased volume of exports has helped compensate for the downturn in the UK industry.

To find out more information about The Brock Metal Company visit their website www.brock-metal.co.uk

Find out more information about an export communications review.

 

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