A Wanganui company is establishing a direct presence in the Australian market and contemplating a significant growth in market share at the same time.
Until now Pacific Helmets, which produces and exports safety helmets around the world from its Castlecliff factory, has relied on an arrangement with an existing company based in Southport on the Gold Coast to handle its marketing.
But that has changed with the creation of Pac Fire Pty in the same Queensland city.
David Bennett, principal of Pacific Helmets, said for about 15 years his firm used another company to shift its product but when one of its managers wanted to set up his own business, Pacific Helmets got alongside him.
"He was a specialist in the area of protective gear so we worked with him for a year until he set up the company which in those days was called Pacific Helmets Australia," Mr Bennett said.