TR’s Chris Black to speak at NEAA’s Automotive Export Week

The NEAA is working with Supply Chain North East and the Department for International Trade (DIT) to ensure the virtual event invites businesses at every stage of the process to explore key automotive markets, learn about all aspects of export, seek support from market specialists and trade champions, build contacts and meet potential customers.

Black, the Global Sales Director for Automotive Business Development at TR, is the industrial lead for the NEAA’s trade working group, which was launched as a key part of the NEAA’s five-year strategy to better understand and support the trade activity of its members.

He will explain to NEAA members how TR has developed its automotive customer base in many countries on three continents around the world and how it is continuing to invest and expand in North America, Europe and Asia.

Black, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the fastener industry, said: “As a full service provider to the automotive industry, TR is adept at reducing the cost of engineering projects through our teams working hand in hand with our customers to develop the right solution for them, from design through to production.

“We’re continuing to invest in our manufacturing sites and innovation centres to support our automotive customers’ needs, in particular to partner with the growing number of niche and start-up electric vehicle manufacturers.

“Our experience of developing first class supply chains and providing cost benefits to customers can act as an example to other businesses and help them tackle the challenge of growing overseas.”

Automotive Export Week will feature more than 40 events including country briefings, interactive panel discussions and workshops. In addition, the week will provide a platform for delegates to market their products and services to enable business matchmaking, collaboration and one-to-one networking.

Over the past 30 years the North East has established itself as a centre of excellence for automotive manufacturing. It is the second largest automotive region in the UK and accounts for 30% of UK passenger vehicles, 20% of Europe’s electric passenger vehicles, ten percent of all UK non-highway vehicles and produces 350,000 engines per year. More recently, it has established itself as a leading location for electrification with strengths in battery manufacturing, power electronics, motors and drives.

Paul Butler, CEO, North East Automotive Alliance, said: “Automotive Export Week creates the ideal opportunity for businesses to expand their sector knowledge and raise their company profile with a view to boosting sales overseas and speaking directly to specialist trade advisors.”

Lawrence Davies MBE, automotive sector team, DIT, added: “This event will bring together automotive country specialists from within the Department for International Trade and other supporting organisations and companies from across the North East and the UK. Companies at all stages of export will benefit from this amazing opportunity.”