TWO Gateshead businessmen are heading to the USA to investigate Internet-based knowledge management techniques.

Robin Mackie and John Richardson of the Express Group hope their stint with a US firm will enhance their design engineering firm's ability to operate on a global basis.

Supported by the Department of Trade and Industry's international secondments service, they will spend three months with the South Bay Group, a Minnesota company.

"The globalisation of the engineering industry offers us exciting opportunities and the Internet means we should not be constrained by geography," said Mr Mackie, main board member with the company.

"We want to introduce a new Internet system to help teams working in different locations on new product development. South Bay can help and that in itself will accelerate innovation in the UK."

The American company specialises in improving business performance by applying new electronic technologies. It is among the world leaders in the development of web technology and knowledge management techniques.

The Express Group offers manufacturers a product design-to-manufacture service and is keen to exploit opportunities around the world.

While in the US group IT manager Mr Richardson will study the development of Internet-based solutions to deliver a knowledge-management system for his company.

The DTI's international secondments service supports UK employees from any discipline to any country for periods of three to 12 months.