Exports Drive Growth At AJ Power In Craigavon

Craigavon-based AJ Power, a specialist in emergency, standby and prime diesel generating systems, has recently clinched a series of export orders worth around £3m from global clients as diverse as international news agencies, and UN peace-keeping operations in Chad, central Africa.

AJ Power, which has used Invest Northern Ireland's trade missions to access global markets such as the Arabian Gulf, was the only local company named in the recent Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list of high growth businesses.

The company, which employs over 50 people at its modern manufacturing facility in Carn Industrial Estate, was listed at number four in recognition of a 181 per cent growth rate over the past three years. Growth in 2008 is projected to continue and top 70 per cent.

The company designs, manufactures and markets over 1,500 diesel generating sets per year to clients in more than 50 countries including Africa and South America. Currently 95 per cent of its output of diesel generators goes to markets outside Northern Ireland. Among other recent contracts is one to power air conditioning at the Irish Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.


AJ Power is also a major supplier of power systems to mobile communications operators worldwide. Other regular customers are found in government buildings, large supermarket chains, hospitals, international banks and data management centres.

Managing Director Ashley Pigott, who set up the company in 2003 with Financial Director James McIlveen, said: "What underpins the outstanding success that we are experiencing in global markets is a commitment to provide existing and potential customers with outstanding service.

"Our equipment has been developed for the digital age and features the latest technology especially in control systems which offer intelligent mains failure, event recording, advanced metering/protection and wireless functions.

"We've an experienced management team and a well-educated and young workforce operating within a company ethos focused on people and traditional values of quality, integrity, flexibility and responsiveness. We've also used management's vast experience of over 100 years in power generation to develop a wide range of new generating set designs geared to the needs of the many sectors in which we are operating," he added.

Welcoming the company's success, Alan Hingston, Invest NI's Trade Director, said: "AJ Power is enjoying impressive growth from its pursuit of business in Africa, the Middle East and other markets outside Northern Ireland, a commitment recognised in the Fast Track 100 list. Over the past four years the company has used a number of our comprehensive Passport to Export programmes including missions to Asia, the United Arab Emirates and most recently Saudi Arabia."

The company product portfolio ranges from 10kVA to 3300kVA generating sets using diesel engines from manufacturers including Deutz, Sisu, Scania and MTU.

(GK/JM)