AT least one Irish company has proved that the idea of Irish/US business partnerships can work. Joe and Pat English of RET Vision Systems in Dundalk have so far signed seven partnership agreements with US companies.
The brothers are part of thee North American Partnership Programme (NAPP) run jointly by Forbairt and the International Fund for Ireland. The company, which provides automation solutions for many high tech companies, was set up only 18 months ago. Already it employs eight people and the brothers are hoping to expand that by six immediately and by 15 next year.
The English brothers, who had worked for US multinationals in Ireland, realised there was a gap in the market in computer vision, a technology which basically allows computers to "see". The technique can be used for all sorts of industrial processes from food and drink to pharmaceuticals and general manufacturing.
The company is now targeting US companies through the NAPP programme. "It's absolutely brilliant, just the best," they said. We are now using US software solutions and bringing them into Europe. The two brothers have been to visit seven companies so far out of a field of 10 and have signed partnership agreements with all. They will be visiting the other three companies later today and tomorrow.
All the US companies employ between 15 and 20 people, although the largest they are seeing employs 120. And all are specialist application software companies from all across the US. "It's all about products which will make Irish industry more effective, efficient and competitive and thus allow it to become world class," Mr Joe English said.
Mr Nick Mernagh, manager of the NAPP, said that partnership programmes were the way ahead for Irish business. "Our experience in Forbairt has shown that the most successful companies are those which have managed to create and build strong partnerships or alliances in their product sector."
Another success story is Mall on Group in Cookstown. Managing director Mr Peter Mallon is having a number of useful business meetings today and tomorrow and is hoping to create 70 jobs. The company, set up with his wife Michelle, is now involved in drawing applications. It first won a contract with Telecom Eireann and a £5 million deal with the Department of Agriculture. The areas it is specialising in include electricity, water, land and property management. It has offices in Dundalk as well as Cookstown. Mr Mallon is planning to expand its employment in Dundalk to 140 people from 70 with the help of a Forbairt grant to build a new factory and a new technology agreement with a US firm while in Pittsburgh.
