Member Article

Optima expands overseas portfolio with six-figure funding deal

Blackburn-based engineering company Optima Control Solutions Ltd. has expanded its export portfolio following a six-figure funding deal from NatWest and UK Export Finance.

The firm provides hi-tech systems for manufacturing production lines, primarily involving the design and supply of electro-mechanical control systems for production machines.

The business was founded in 1995 by Michael Hill and Adrian West and employs 20 people including professional engineers from its headquarters at Capricorn Park.

Managing director at Optima, Michael Hill, said: “Optima is an independent company which means that we are able to integrate any manufacturer’s equipment in the systems we design.

“Our real differentiator however is the depth of expert knowledge that we hold for a wide range of industrial applications.

“Having this knowledge allows us to deliver robust solutions that meet the diverse needs of our customers.”

Optima recently won a major order from South Korea. To fulfil the contract Optima had to purchase production line equipment from UK and European suppliers, and export the equipment overseas to South Korea.

To meet the demands of the order, bosses at Optima secured £250,000 of Working Capital from NatWest and UK Export Finance.

This helped Optima ensure it could pay suppliers in full before receiving full payment from its own customer due to the extended seaborne delivery times.

Senior relationship manager at NatWest, Ian Harrison, said: “In order to facilitate Optima’s ambitious export expansion plans, the collaboration between the company, myself, Simon and UKTI was essential and ultimately enabled the completion of a very successful contract.

“It has been a pleasure to have assisted Optima in establishing themselves within the Global market.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .