Two Northern Ireland firms selected to showcase capabilities to Dutch delegation

Northern Ireland firms The Exact Group and Andor Technology have showcased their capabilities and products to industry experts, business leaders and government agencies from the Dutch TechZone.

The purpose of the event, which was organised by Invest Northern Ireland and included 26 delegates, was to highlight capabilities within Northern Ireland.

The Dutch TechZone group’s focus in Northern Ireland was on the triple helix industry working in collaboration with government and academia.

Operating in two distinct areas, Composites and CNC, The Exact Group, a precision engineering and composite finishing company, offers a range of services across industries including automotive, electrical, energy, marine, pharmaceutical and transport. However it specialises in providing a rapid response service to the aircraft interiors industry.

Following the visit, the Dutch TechZone delegation visited Andor Technology, a spin out from Queen’s University Belfast, which continues to work closely with government and academia.

Ronan Callan, The Exact Group's director of operations, said: “We were delighted to have been chosen by Invest NI to showcase our work to the delegation from the Dutch TechZone. It gave us the opportunity to demonstrate how The Exact Group works across a range of capabilities and industries and how, from our base in Newry, we service the global market.

“We have a positive relationship with Invest NI, and it has been critical to the growth of our company and in fostering collaboration with other companies in the sector.

"Northern Ireland continues to punch above its weight in terms of its engineering and supply chains, and it is important we continue to get the message out that Northern Ireland is the place for growth and investment.”

The Exact Group was also recently acknowledged as an outstanding organisation in the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Recognised for Excellence (RfE) framework. This five-star accolade reinforces the company’s commitment to continuous improvement, investment in training and upskilling, and strategic and operational processes, joining some of the highest performing companies in the world.

The EFQM model is a globally recognised management framework and reinforces the high standard of work that the Dutch TechZone delegates could expect from The Exact Group.

The Exact Group prides itself on its commitment to the highest standards of quality and excellence, and in addition to the EFQM 5 Star award, holds the SC21 Silver, ISO 9001 and AS9100 standards.