UK lock manufacturer Pickersgill-Kaye has passed the million pound barrier for overseas sales as 2015 proved another profitable year for the company, boosted by significant orders for its train locking products from South East Asia and cell door locks and hatches for custodial facilities in the Republic of Ireland.

This major breakthrough in exports for the Leeds-based company was the cornerstone of another successful 12 months for Pickersgill-Kaye which saw overall sales increase to £3.5million for the year ending November 2015.

Pickersgill-Kaye, which designs and produces locks and safety products for the rail, security and custodial industries, won overseas contracts worth £1.1million – around 30% of all sales and up from £638,300 in 2014.

There was a major order for passenger alarm units from Axion Technologies in North America for fitting to new-build Toronto Transit ‘Rocket’ subway cars, while locomotive cab door locks, hammer boxes and break panels were supplied to train companies in Canada, New Zealand and the US.

After breaking into the lucrative China market with its custodial products in 2014, supplying cell door locks for the railway satellite police stations on the route of the new Hong Kong-China Express Rail Link, Pickersgill-Kaye continues to make inroads with its specialist hose connector equipment supplied to Meggitts.

Meanwhile in Europe, Pickersgill-Kaye manufactured emergency hammer boxes and break panels for a tram project in Belgium and trains in Germany, cab door locks for Switzerland, emergency break access panels for Austria and an ongoing supply of loco door locks for the Bombardier Traxx locos.

Demand for Pickersgill-Kaye’s range of high security and custodial locks for prisons and police stations continues to increase closer to home with ongoing sales of its cell door locks, strikers and hatches for prestigious projects in Ireland.

Pickersgill-Kaye’s director – business development, Harry Griffiths, said: "We are delighted to report that we almost doubled our overseas sales compared to the previous year, despite the continuing weakness of the Eurozone. Global sales are making an important contribution to our business."

The specialist engineering firm is renowned for well-designed and quality engineered rail and high security products. It is this manufacturing commitment, backed up by excellent levels of service, which has helped it fill its overseas order book against often tough competition.