Pictured at the latest Danske Bank Export First event are Tanya Anderson (NI Chamber); Mark Watson (Danske Bank); Sandra Scannell (NI Chamber) and Gary Wilmot (Andor).

Gary Wilmot, Managing Director at Andor Technology shared the inspirational export growth story of the world leading scientific imaging manufacturer setup out of Queen’s University in 1989.

The private dinner, which was attended by 25 guests and held at Cultra Manor formed part of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Danske Bank Export First initiative which seeks to encourage and grow export activity by providing a vehicle to share the inspirational journeys of some of Northern Ireland’s most successful exporters.

Andor develops and manufactures high performance digital cameras; its founders, working in the Physics department of Queen’s University, Belfast, found that the cameras then available were inadequate for their demanding applications, so developed their own. After using them in various imaging and spectroscopic applications they found they were being requested by researchers in other departments in Queen’s and other universities. Andor was formed to take advantage of these requirements.

The company has grown organically and is today the fastest growing company manufacturing high performance digital cameras and employs over 400 people in 16 offices worldwide and distributes its products to 10,000 customers in 55 countries.

Speaking at the event, Gary Wilmot, Managing Director of Andor, said:

“If you want to grow, you need to be international – the challenge is to find the opportunity out there.  Andor is challenged on a daily basis by its global competitors which in turn fuels its commitment to innovation and doing things differently and ultimately better.”

Tanya Anderson, Head of SME Development at NI Chamber, said:

“The NI Chamber Danske Bank Export First initiative is all about sharing knowledge and experience – we recognise that learning from others can help business growth and that is something we need to encourage – particularly when relating to export. We are delighted that Andor were able to share their growth and export success story with NI Chamber members.”

Click to view photography from the event

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