TRATMENT couch company Plinth 2000, based at Wetheringsett, near Stowmarket, has reported continued export success.

Managing director Niall Dyer says overseas sales have grown four-fold over the last six years, with the firm having distribution in more than 30 countries including recently negotiated deals in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.

“British goods are highly prized for quality and reliability around the world and we have had an excellent response to our purpose-built equipment that is designed and manufactured in this country,” said Mr Dyer.

“We have even made inroads into markets like the Republic of China, Hong Kong and Singapore, which are associated with producing cheaper couches, because they regard our products as more robust, dependable and fit-for-purpose.

“We estimate the UK treatment couch market is worth at least �15million annually and if you replicate that across other overseas territories, there is clearly good export business to be won.

“So we are now looking for additional distributors who can give us new channels to market, not just in the mainstream medical profession, but in niche sectors like beauty, health spas, physiotherapy, traditional Chinese acupuncture and tattoo parlours.”

All Plinth 2000 products, which are CE marked and built to ISO9001 quality assurance standards, conform with Medical Directive 93/42/EEC and electrical standard IEC601 Part 1, all of which are accepted worldwide.

“All clinicians, healthcare practitioners and therapists demand a firm and stable platform for general treatment and examination techniques, right through to heavy manipulation, and many of our overseas customers find that our couches deliver the performance that locally-made products cannot,” added Mr Dyer.

“We also offer a guaranteed supply of spares and parts, including replacement upholstery, that keeps our equipment in service for many years, with many of the early models recording an almost 20-year lifespan. So we can confidently claim that our British-made couches are amongst the best in the world.”