Software company aims for US boost
Jul 31 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal
ASOFTWARE company that was inspired by the work of a 20-year-old Sunderland University student has launched in the United States as it looks to double in size.
Washington-based OnePoint Systems is awaiting accreditation from US industry body the Envelope Manufacturers Association, which it believes will help it attract millions of pounds worth of business.
It believes the stamp of approval will allow it to boost its production ten-fold and double its 12-strong workforce within a year.
The firm has already sent a member of staff over to the US to follow up on a number of contract leads, focusing on the envelope manufacturing industry.
The software is part of a touchscreen system which allows staff on the factory floor to monitor the smooth running of production and assess any faults.
John Bartlett, general manager at the firm and head designer of the software, said: “We see the business doubling in size year on year once we land the stamp of approval.
“We have already proved that it works and that it can speed up production and with fewer glitches. Now that we are ready to expand, the US represents a huge opportunity for us.”
As a student, Mr Bartlett, 29, was challenged to find a way of capturing and analysing timesheets for a factory floor during his industrial placement at North East firm Washington Envelopes in 2000.
Once he graduated from his computer science degree, the enterprising Sunderland University student was then made IT manager by the firm’s managing director Dave McGuire, who then decided to sell his shares in 2005 to set up OnePoint with John Bartlett.
Mr McGuire, now managing director at OnePoint, said: “With the help of John, the software was quickly established as part of everyday life at Washington Envelopes. “A lot of customers started to ask where we got the system from and how much it cost. I started to see that there was a lot of commercial potential in the system.”
The firm is now looking to move into a new site from its rented base in Washington Envelopes, now called Encore Envelopes, in the Hertburn Industrial Estate. It is also developing software in partnership with Sunderland University that can be used in all manufacturing sectors and hopes to expand in this direction once it gets its envelope operations up and running.
It is also looking for a local supplier for its touch screens as it is currently shipping them in from Germany at some expense.
Mr McGuire said: “With a wealth of manufacturing knowledge on our doorstep in the North East, we are constantly developing our products based on new technologies.”
We see the business doubling in size year on year once we land the stamp of approval
