Versatility is the key as Arrow hits target

THERE’S a hive of hi-tech activity, poised for commercial success at the Innovation Technology Centre on South Yorkshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Park.

In the last of a series of articles focusing on businesses now taking off after moving to the 24,000 sq ft technology incubator, run by leading UK innovation centre operator
Oxford Innovation, Industrial Editor BOB RAE talks to a growing electronics company working for businesses at the leading edge of technology.

VARIETY is definitely the spice of life for Innovation Technology Centre-based Arrow Technical.

The company, founded just over a dozen years ago by electronics expert Dr Chris Worrall, works for some of the world’s top technology companies on some of the world’s cutting-edge electronics products.

Microsoft, BAe, Rolls-Royce Aerospace and Morphy Richards have all made use of the Advanced Manufacturing Park company’s business expertise.

And while you won’t find Arrow’s name stamped on the outside, the electronics in one of the products you’ve owned or used could easily incorporate some of its handiwork. Drill controllers, air-conditioning systems, dimmers for street lights, remote controls, medical equipment, digital photo frames that download pictures from the internet, PDAs, automatic leak detectors, even alarms that stop prisoners hanging themselves in their cells – Arrow has worked on them all.

Dr Worrall, who himself worked or BAe and spent time in America and Hong Kong before realising a lifetime’s ambition to set up on his own, puts Arrow’s success is down to its versatility, broad technical capabilities and its ability to provide extra design capabilities as and when its customers need them. Lots of bigger companies have shrunk their R&D departments and now call on Arrow to fill the gaps as and when they appear.