Worldwide contract for Park and Slide (From The Northern Echo)

Worldwide contract for Park and Slide

9:16am Friday 14th August 2009 in Search

TWO North-East inventors have signed a worldwide licensing agreement for their space-saving parking system.

Former Tarmac managing director Ken Riley, and his business partner, David Carr, signed the contract with US firm Harding Steel Inc at the end of last month.

Harding Steel has been awarded the rights to manufacture, distribute and market the Park and Slide brand of products to the rest of the world.

It will see production begin on the eight product range at Harding Steel’s manufacturing plant near Shanghai, ahead of an official launch at the National Parking Association exhibition in Washington DC, in October.

The original device, designed by Mr Riley for his own garage, enables a car to be pushed by hand into a tight corner, maximising space.

At the request of their American partners, the pair from Gateshead have now designed a full array of products that include a front-to-back slide for a single narrow garage, a large wheel base vehicle slide, a small turntable and slide for motorbikes, and a larger turntable and slide for quad bikes, golf carts and sit-on lawn mowers.

The products are forecasted to have a turnover of US $2m (£1.2m) over the next three years.

Mr Riley said: “We are delighted to have signed this agreement with Harding Steel and are confident they are the best people to take Park and Slide forward.”

The idea has gone from concept to production in less than two years.

Harding Steel manufactures, installs, and services mechanical parking lift systems for hotes, commercial car parks, car dealerships and residential garages.

President Jim Myers said: “Our business is to solve tough parking problems, and with Ken and Dave’s flare for innovation and our expertise in the manufacture and distribution of mechanical parking systems, I predict a successful future for Park and Slide.”

RTC Consulting came on board through UK Trade and Industry’s R&D programme, which aims to help R&D businesses to expand into overseas market.