Cornish company grows overseas with low carbon products

Cornwall based TFP Hydrogen Products (formerly PV3 Technologies Ltd), founded in 2011, provides advanced materials for electrochemical technologies. This includes materials that are used in devices such as hydrogen generators, fuel cells, batteries, water treatment technologies and Med-tech devices. 

One of the products the business offers is a nanomaterial electrocatalyst that can be used to provide a low carbon route to the manufacture of foundation chemicals.

When the company first engaged with the Department for International Trade (DIT), its primary market was within the UK with only 0.5% of its turnover coming from exports. However, exports in the financial year ending March 2020, accounted for 10% of its turnover. With new business having recently been secured in Denmark, in the form of a £400,000 sale, its business growth is likely to be 50% in 2020/21. 

David Hodgson, Managing Director of TFP Hydrogen Products, said:

“We recognised that the market in the UK was never going to be big enough. One of our core values is that we maintain a global outlook. In areas such as electrochemical synthesis it is a relatively small but internationally growing industry, so you have to think globally.” 

Exporting has also allowed TFP Hydrogen Products to innovate its products as a catalyst was specifically produced and designed for its customer in Scandinavia. 

The company has been working with DIT since 2014 and has received support in several ways including export related advice and guidance, attending webinars and one-to-one meetings focused on elevating its overseas sales. 

TFP Hydrogen Products is also currently enrolled on the Export Trade Forum project, a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funded programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, as it looks to boost its international digital presence.

David added: “The help and advice we’ve received from Colin Piper, our International Trade Adviser (ITA), and the wider team at DIT has been fantastic. For example, we had a customer approach us looking for materials, so we needed a bit of comfort that they were not a credit risk. 

“The most significant support has been the help we’ve received in cutting through the noise. There’s a lot of information out there and DIT has been able to and tell us exactly where to find the correct advice.

“More generally, under the Export Trade Forum project we’ve had great support in areas such as internationalising our social media and digital presence. It is really useful to have an ITA that you can ask questions to on an ad hoc basis.”

“My advice to other businesses looking to export is to utilise the trusted network and advice that DIT can provide. They will give you that confidence. Equally, you have to be prepared to put some effort in.”

Colin Piper, DIT International Trade Adviser, said:

“It has been fantastic to work with TFP Hydrogen Products and see them grow through exporting. They are a great example of a company which has taken the initiative and worked hard to globalise its product while seeking expert advice when needed.

“I would encourage any company looking to export to get in touch with DIT. With the right product and market approach, exporting can give companies the resilience they need to weather difficult economic times.” 

TFP Hydrogen Products (formerly PV3) has been recently acquired by Technical Fibre Products Ltd (TFP) in January 2021 and this will also further accelerate their overseas growth. The companies share a passion for advancing low carbon technologies and TFP Hydrogen Products will make advantage of TFP’s already established global sales and marketing organisation to grow its market presence and export sales further. 

Get in touch

To discuss your own export development and find out more about the support available from DIT, call 01275 774 456 or email ditsw@mobile.trade.gov.uk or visit www.great.gov.uk/advice.