Q: How was FSC Global formed?
FSC Global Ltd was formed in November 2001 when the amount of overseas business we were doing justified creating a dedicated company.
Typically the markets we serve such as marine, power generation and petrochemical are very different to the UK side of the business which tends to centre around electrical contractor, OEM, security and specifier type work.
Q: Why form a separate company?
The requirements of export are quite different to the UK home market, particularly in the areas of specification and documentation. Customers’ needs tend to be a lot more bespoke as well with much of the work being project based. Having a dedicated company allows us to focus on the customers’ unique requirements and ultimately provide a better service.
Like FS Cables we are based at Alban Point in Hertfordshire, with over 55,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space plus a large yard for packing goods into containers on site. The 5,600m2 of stock we hold plus a manufacture to order facility means we are able to provide cable for many different applications quickly and efficiently. Goods can be shipped by courier, air, sea, rail or road to meet the customers’ needs.
Q: How many of you are there in FSC Global?
Starting with a team of three, the company has more than doubled in size over the years to seven members of staff. Greig, Daniel, Rosie, Becky, George, Artem and myself. Daniel and Artem look after the Kazakhstan and CIS markets while Greig, Rosie, Becky and George focus on Europe and the Middle East. Dubai and the UAE represent big markets for us.
Becky joined us last year and looks after much of the office administration and dealings with freight companies. Artem is a Russian speaker and recently moved into sales from the warehouse. He also brings with him plenty of ‘hands on’ experience of the products!
Q: How do you promote the business globally?
Exhibitions are a good way of reaching new customers – we are typically doing around 2-3 per year. They are mainly energy related shows such as oil and gas and offshore. Last year we attended KIOGE in Kazakhstan and ADIPEC in Dubai. This year we will be at Offshore Technology Conference 2009 in Houston and Trako 2009 in Poland.
We are also members of various export organisations aimed at developing business for UK exporting companies.
Q: You mentioned that customers’ needs tend to be different overseas?
Yes that’s right. First of all the average order size tends to be larger but less frequent than the UK side.
We also have to provide all the paperwork such as certificates of origin and legalised documents, as well as arranging packing of goods suitable for shipping by road, sea, rail or air. We aim to offer the fastest, most efficient service of any cable distributor wherever the customer is working. Just like at FS Cables, building customer relationships is critical to ensure we supply what is required on time and to the correct location.
Q: What about on the product side?
It tends to focus around the larger power and instrumentation cables, armoured or unarmoured types. Cables to NEK 606, IEC 60092-3, and BS6883 are popular, as are power cables to BS5467, BS6724 and IEC60502. Fibre optic, coaxial and microwave cables are also stocked and like FS Cables, many cables are available in Low Smoke Halogen Free versions.
We are often asked to provide custom manufactured cables with various options to cope with contaminated ground, UV, heat, chemicals, or LSHF sheathing, fire resistance or armouring. Often solutions can be found with short lead times and low minimum order quantities.
Q: Tell me about some of the projects you have supplied to?
Over the years FSC Global have worked on a variety of projects around the world, from hospital fire safety systems in Malta, UN emergency supplies in Iraq, to oil pipelines and power stations in the Middle East.
We have also supplied large amounts of LSHF and fire resistant cables for mass transit systems such as the Porto Metro and Bangkok underground