A BUSINESS venture which began in a garden shed in Montrose has
secured #25,000 in funding from British Steel (Industry), the enterprise
arm of British Steel, and sizable equity stakes from the British Telecom
Future Start Fund and British Coal (Enterprise).
With such backing the company has been given the opportunity to make a
bigger noise in the music industry.
Carlton Amplification has pioneered a new technique in guitar
amplifiers which replaces the traditional amp's limited life valve with
a high-tech Smooth Tube which never wears out.
Director Mr Mark Paton designed and built his first amp in the shed
six years ago because he could not afford to buy one. The next six, sold
to colleagues at Edinburgh University, ensured the birth of the
business.
The company has now outgrown its West Lothian workshop, and Mr Paton
and fellow director Jaqueline Pierpoint have moved the firm with BSI
help to Dundyvan industrial estate, Coatbridge.
Jaqueline Pierpoint said Mr Paton's CAD skills were behind the
success. He had designed an amp which sounded as good as much more
expensive amps and because of the microchip circuitry was also smaller
than amps of similar output. ''We have never advertised the amps. They
have sold solely on their sound quality.''
BSI regional executive Mr Rod McLaren said the company had a great
deal of potential and an innovative and exciting product. It was also
one of a diverse range of modern companies being attracted to
Lanarkshire.
''As they discovered on a trip to Europe's top music exhibition in
Frankfurt in March, there is a tremendous amount of interest in their
Smooth Tube amps from the trade and recreational guitarists alike.''
The company produces the amps in amp/speaker combinations or as rack
speaker systems with separate amplifiers.
Mr McLaren said that companies had to submit a very detailed business
plan, including three-year projections and marketing strategies, before
being considered for an investment.
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