Clay pigeon trap maker shoots for global growth with £1m export funding boost

Posted on 19 Feb 2026 by James Devonshire

Promatic International, the Wirral-based manufacturer of clay pigeon shooting equipment, has secured a £1m trade credit facility to support rising export demand, strengthening its position as a specialist supplier to international shooting ranges and sporting events.

Arranged with HSBC UK and guaranteed by UK Export Finance under its General Export Facility, the funding will provide working capital to help Promatic scale production and fulfil growing overseas orders.

Founded in 1996 and based in Hooton, Promatic helped pioneer the transition from mechanical clay traps to wireless release systems, improving safety and reliability on shooting grounds worldwide. Its equipment is now used at elite competitions organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation and at World Shooting Para Sport Championships, with installations ranging from personal-use traps to Olympic-standard layouts.

The company has built a strong export base across 41 countries in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, but rapid growth increased pressure on working capital. The new facility allows Promatic to purchase materials in larger quantities, helping maintain delivery schedules as order volumes rise.

Gary Jones, Group Chief Executive Officer at Promatic International, said the financing marked a significant step in the company’s development. “The support from UKEF and HSBC UK has been transformative for our business,” he said. “With access to working capital, we can take on larger international projects and meet growing demand from clients and sporting venues worldwide.”

Export growth currently supports 58 employees at Promatic’s headquarters and a network of Wirral-based suppliers providing steel processing, coating and packaging services, underlining the local impact of specialist manufacturing.

Promatic’s international profile continues to expand, with competition-standard installations completed at high-profile ranges in Dubai, Greece and the United States, including the shooting venue for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company also sponsors Team GB athletes, including an Olympic gold medallist.

For HSBC UK, the deal highlights the importance of tailored finance solutions for export-focused SMEs. Working with UK Export Finance, the bank structured the facility to ease cashflow pressures linked to larger international orders, enabling Promatic to pursue long-term growth plans.

The agreement illustrates how collaboration between specialist manufacturers, banks and government-backed export agencies can help British engineering firms scale globally, ensuring niche expertise developed in places like Hooton continues to find customers around the world.

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