AN INNOVATIVE Malton company which specialises in averting industrial danger has opened a new office in the US.

ISIS-ex, based in Showfield Lane, designs and manufactures Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) that are approved as safe for use in explosive and hazardous environments, primarily in the offshore and onshore oil and gas industries Now, after two years of rapid growth, it is opening an office in Houston, Texas, to exploit the North American market.

The firm’s sales manager, Darren Mann, is relocating to Houston to manage the business in the role of vice-president of ISIS-Ex Inc.

ISIS-ex is one of the largest manufacturers of this product worldwide and the customer base includes most of the world’s leading blue-chip companies operating in sectors with dangerous environments.

The expansion into the US comes only two years after a management buy-out which initiated a period of vigorous growth. Between 2009 and 2010 the business grew by 250 per cent, with even greater growth forecast for this year.

Mr Mann, a trained engineer, is an expert in the industry. As well as directing sales for the company over the last two years, he has been instrumental in developing ISIS-Ex’s innovative learning management software, which enables clients to carry out field maintenance on their HMIs.

He said: “By establishing a full-time presence in the US we will be able to strengthen our relationships with existing customers and introduce our innovative, cutting edge products to new customers.

“We’re very much a listening company, with a dynamic research and development programme, so this will also enable me to identify new needs and new opportunities within the fast-moving oil and gas sector.”

Mr Mann will lead the sales effort with current distributors, Talon Technical Sales of Houston, continuing to represent ISIS-Ex in Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

Supported by the UK office, he will continue to service key European accounts from the US.