In August 2023, we made initial contact with a Chinese manufacturer of barbed wire-making machinery. After conversations back and forth about the specs for the equipment, the order was finally placed in December 2023. Hebei Kaiye were very helpful throughout the process, and we are grateful for the partnership.
Disruption of shipping through the Red Sea had a major impact on the equipment’s scheduled arrival date in Felixstowe. While initially we had been expecting to take delivery of the equipment in early March, between Chinese New Year and rerouting round the Cape of Good Hope, it ended up taking til Saturday, 20 April 2024 for the equipment to arrive and clear customs.
As customs clearance is something we have had limited experience with, I will say that we were very impressed with George Baker, our customs and forwarding agents: the standard of their communications has been excellent, guiding us through the customs clearance process, and ensuring that as much as possible was done in advance of arrival.
Immediate priorities are now connecting with suppliers; commissioning, first production and establishing quality processes; and, initial sales and marketing.
I hope that you will follow us on this journey, as we seek to fill gaps in metals manufacturing in Scotland, and provide local sources of manufactures to our agricultural sector.