An international player since 1965

In 1965, Abacus chairman John Pratt visited the Middle East on a trade mission and established the company’s first agents in Bahrain, Dubai and Qatar. Trade with the Middle East had only just begun; and it was quite a different affair from today. Trips lasted up to six weeks at a time and all visiting tradesmen had to have an audience with the local ruler. This often involved presenting products in front of a large group of people - many of whom were competitors!

Over the next decade, the Abacus network in the Middle East grew and grew, expanding into South East Asia. The legacy of our pioneering export relationships in the 1960s and 70s can be seen in our facilities in Shanghai and Russia.

Today, Abacus sells to all major Europeans countries, including Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Africa and India.