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Nov 26, 2023

Brampton man pitches 'Wanger Flange' on BBC's Dragon's Den

A CUMBRIAN entrepreneur made an appearance on national TV this week as he

A CUMBRIAN entrepreneur made an appearance on national TV this week as he attempted to secure investment for his business.

Paul Robinson, from Brampton, starred on the BBC's Dragon's Den on Thursday evening.

He was hoping to secure £50,000 for 25 per cent of his company, the unusually named Wanger Flange.

Described on the company's website as "the world's most versatile fixing", the Wanger Flange is a flexible bracket used for construction purposes.

Speaking on the show, Paul explained: "The type of bracket that comes with everything like flat pack furniture, is limited to the angle its set.

"You end up with thousands of brackets. Wouldn't it be nicer to have a much more flexible bracket.

"The Wanger Flange can join any type of material to any other, at any angle and build any shape you want.

"We like to say, if you want to build it, Wanger Flange it.

"I design and build geodesic domes. They tend to need adjusting, so I was looking for a bracket that had a little bit more movement in it and would lock solid.

"The interest that has been shown so far has been artists, exhibition stand makers, people building structures in their gardens like gazebos, a whole variety of things."

There was initially some interest from the Dragons - particularly from Deborah Meaden, who was interested in the potential applications for building outdoor spaces.

However, upon finding out that Paul's product would require further testing before it could be used to create walk-in structures, she pulled out - despite Paul's insistence that Wanger Flanges could even be used to build an airport.

In the end, none of the Dragons invested - but Mrs Meaden did add: "I think you've definitely got something here. You will sell enough and earn some money out of it - but I don't think you will sell enough for me to make some money out of it."

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