A BURY company has pierced the old Iron Curtain and penetrated into the Russian market.

Leading business telephone manufacturer Interquartz (UK) Ltd has been appointed to supply handsets to one of the country's Government departments in a deal worth around 200,000 US dollars.

And it was the Bury company's quality build that clinched the contract which was supplied through Information Technology, an Avaya business partner in Russia.

Interquartz's hands-free speaker phones are being installed throughout the country for the Ministry of Taxes.

"The handsets are being deployed as part of an overall upgrade of their telephone system," said Charles Williams, Interquartz's new business development manager.

Interquartz (UK) Ltd is based at Pennine House, Salford Street, Bury, the headquarters of its parent company Pennine Telecom.

Logistically, the Russian order proved to be a test of the efficiency of Interquartz's distribution capabilities as the products were required within a very short lead time. However, drawing on the company's wide experience in international trade, the tight deadlines were met.

Charles added: "It is a large order for us and reflects well on the build quality of the phones, which are also popular in the public and corporate sectors in the UK. This is the first time we have done something of this size in

Russia and it augers well for the future."

The order comes close on the heels of another big order for phones for the new World Trade Centre in Dubai.

Interquartz (UK) Ltd manufactures and distributes high quality, feature rich business telephones into the European, Middle Eastern and African world markets.