Business

Limavady manufacturer Seating Matters points towards international growth

Martin Tierney (left), director of Seating Matters, with Invest NI's Des Gartland
Martin Tierney (left), director of Seating Matters, with Invest NI's Des Gartland Martin Tierney (left), director of Seating Matters, with Invest NI's Des Gartland

SPECIALIST manufacturer Seating Matters in Limavady is investing in a range of measures to grow export sales of its chairs across Europe and America.

The family-run firm works with leading healthcare organisations around the world and hopes to build on its recent supplier listing within the network of Veterans Hospitals in the USA.

Eight new jobs will be recruited as part of its growth plans, aimed at increasing sales to over £6 million by 2020.

And the business is also investing heavily in marketing and product development, helped by support from Invest NI.

Seating Matters supplies specialist seating to healthcare providers, including the NHS, nursing homes and hospitals.

Its product range caters to the holistic needs of patients, providing comfort, postural support and pressure management, and is currently distributed across the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Malta, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Australia, Canada and USA.

Company director Martin Tierney said: “We've dedicated much time and effort to both streamline our production methods and augment our chair design so that it can be fully adapted to the needs of users.

“Invest NI’s support is enabling us to enhance our product range, grow our workforce and increase international sales.

"Our mission is to change the world of healthcare seating and we aim to continue to share our knowledge with the world to ensure no person has to face unnecessary discomfort or mortality.”

Des Gartland, Invest NI’s executive director of regional business, said: “Seating Matters operates at the forefront of seating research and innovation. Its plans to expand its workforce is good news for the Causeway Coast and Glens region and reflects the growing demand from its customers across varied export markets.

“We're pleased to be helping the company implement a growth strategy that will enable the business to achieve its full potential. In particular, the benefits Seating Matters has gained from applying exemplar lean manufacturing practices across the plant are commendable and I hope will aid the continued increase in global sales.”

Invest NI has offered the company support with its recruitment, marketing and product development activities as well as technical advice with securing product patents and implementing lean practices.