AN EXPORT manager at a Rawdon-based air conditioning company has been appointed to the board of an influential trade association.

Asim Ansari, from Airedale International, joins the board of Eurovent Middle East. The appointment was proposed and ratified at Eurovent’s recent AGM in Dubai.

Asim, who has worked for Airedale for nearly 30 years, currently leads the company’s dedicated export sales team, responsible for exporting products to more than 60 countries.

One region of particular focus for Airedale in recent years has been the Middle East and since the opening of their sales office in Dubai in 2014, they have seen a wealth of opportunities for growth, particularly in data centres, which Eurovent Middle East continue to support.

Asim said: “At Airedale we have recognised that certain geographical areas operate not only in different climate conditions, but also with different legislation. This area of understanding legislation is where Eurovent ME is really able to add value.”

He added: “I am delighted to be appointed to the board - but with this comes a responsibility that I take very seriously. A partnership with Eurovent Middle East gives manufacturers a platform to further their success whilst assisting them in meeting regulatory challenges of the region and I intend to work with my fellow board members to be able to deliver the support required whilst lobbying for change where necessary.”

Airedale has recently been shortlisted in two categories at the forthcoming Northern Powerhouse Export Awards. The company is seeing growth in the demand for its systems in line with the increasing number of data centres being built across Europe and Asia, all of which require cooling technology.

Eurovent Middle East is the region’s industry association for energy efficiency, indoor air quality and cold chain solutions. Its participants comprise of leading HVAC manufacturers, process cooling, food cold chain, industrial ventilation and building automation technologies, as well as sector associations and industry initiatives.