Claimed to be the leading cordage company in Germany, Gleistein Ropes is taking steps to enter the international market with the UK being its first choice.

"We have assembled a sales team with more than 100 years of experience in all key areas of the industry, " comments Klaus Walther, MD of Gleistein Ropes.

"We're confident of expansion into the international market and have assembled a strong team both in the UK and with new appointments at our head office in Bremen."

Product will be manufactured at Gleistein's high-tech plant in Germany, which features the very latest machinery and produces approximately 50 kilometres of braided rope per day.

The facility produces 1,800 different products with every type of rope from mass produced items to specific, individually tailored constructions.

All sales, distribution and marketing for the UK will be handled by Gleistein Ropes Ltd from the Westfield office.

In addition the company is able to offer technical support for all rigging, splicing, termination and general finishing of the ropes manufactured in Germany.

The UK branch will be run by Julian Anderson and Charles Stewart as joint managers.

Anderson has more than 20 years in the cordage industry and founded CT Cordage in 1991.

Stewart is a marine industry veteran of 30 years specialising in mooring systems in the offshore industry.

"We know the product is technologically advanced and competitively priced which, backed up with the level of service we offer will make Gleistein Ropes products a very attractive prospect indeed, " said Stewart.