Datum Alloys Commended For Its Award-Winning Ways To Export Growth

July 7, 2006 - The three Devon and Cornwall firms which picked up Business Language Champion Awards yesterday were praised for their use of foreign language skills to carve out export advantages.

Making languages a cornerstone of marketing strategy paid dividends for Kingsbridge-based Datum Alloys. The specialist alloys stockist and distribution company, founded in 1994, has seen its market share grow to 75 per cent of Europe's requirements for solder stencils used for the production of circuit boards.

The Regional Language Network South West praised Datum Alloys as "a great example of a business which has integrated languages and cultural awareness into their sales strategy". It has contributed to the company achieving 60 per cent of sales for export. It was also cited for working with children studying languages in local schools.

Managing director Ben Scott set up the company 12 years ago and, working with marketing director Chris Mahn, started trading products exported to Holland, Belgium, German and France.

"We decided to actively develop our language skills and attended language courses," Mr Mahn said.