Locally global A-Safe crowned for international success

Safety barrier manufacturer, and inventors of the world’s first fixed, flexible, polymer protection system A-Safe are celebrating this week, after becoming winners of the prestigious Queens Award for International Trade.

After developing a worldwide hit with their unique barrier product, they’ve been royally acknowledged, as business thrives.

“We’re absolutely elated to be chosen as a winner of the UK’s highest accolade for business success, and thrilled to be recognised as one of the best firms in the country for international trade” said founder and Managing Director David Smith.

It’s a great achievement for the firm from Halifax who stumbled upon their safety barrier system almost by accident!

Director James Smith said: “We began as manufacturers of shrink wrap in 1984, before developing extrusion skills that allowed us to move on to producing cores and plastic pallets. One of those pallets was stood on its side in the office one day, and we realised it looked like a fence. Fences turned in to safety barriers, and that’s where our success story began.”

The system has become a world hit thanks to its flexible nature, the cost savings it brings, and high-level promotion overseas at Trade Shows. A rapid increase in growth has been seen since they set up A-Safe GmbH in Germany and A-Safe SAS in France in 2010 and 2011 which not only helped them cope with demand, but took the awareness of their system to another level.

Following this, they launched an A-Safe company in America, doing the same in Italy, Australia, Portugal, Thailand and Scandinavia which complemented their partnership network of resellers in over 30 countries, and employing over 100 people worldwide.

A-Safe say that the victory is an achievement for British industry, and they hope that their story inspires other companies to aim high, and achieve greatness.

They will be presented with their award at their premises in the year in which they celebrate their 30th anniversary, and will also attend an award winner’s reception at Buckingham Palace.