Wirral footcare specialist Tectores starts working with manufacturing facility in India as it targets expansion across the Indian subcontinent. Tony McDonough reports
Footcare product manufacturer Tectores has shifted its manufacturing from China to India as part of an expansion drive.
Wirral-based Tectores produces PelliTec, a product that helps prevent blisters forming on feet. It was developed by friends Karl Ormond and Lenny Waters who both worked in the building industry.
They found existing foot blister treatments weren’t doing the job and wanted to come up with something that would help prevent blisters in the first place.
PelliTec is a pad that sticks to the inside of footwear rather than on the skin. Its patented gel technology in the pad cushions and moves with the foot to prevent the friction which causes blisters.
In 2019 they got together with the now co-director Peter Broxton and their business, Tectores, launched PelliTec onto the market. It has proved popular and the firm now has customers in the EU, the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa.
PelliTec was being manufactured at a factory in China but the venture has now shifted production to a facility in Chennai. Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state in India, located on the Bay of Bengal.
This move from China enables a direct relationship with a factory which manufactures for major brands. It also has the capability to innovate and develop new products.
Having a local supply base will enable the company to be competitive in the Indian market and develop relationships with potential distributors.
One of these distributors is FootSecure, based in Bengaluru, which specialises in the management of foot complications caused by diabetes.
Managing director Peter Broxton told LBN: “The factory in Chennai is a first class facility with the potential to manufacture our next generation of products which include a patented insole.
“We are very grateful to Innovate UK and the Department of Business and Trade for supporting our international growth.”
In February LBN revealed the company’s success had been recognised by Innovate UK, the Government’s innovation agency. Tectores is one of 233 ventures to share a £6.2m pot to further develop their products.
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It will receive a £50,000 grant as well as 12 months of tailored business support. Specifically, this grant will enable the business to expand into the amputee market where skin irritation caused by friction is a major problem.
This year Peter visited India as part of the Innovate UK funded Global Explorers Programme. He attended FootSecure’s PODOCON24, a conference dedicated to reducing leg amputations caused by diabetes.