Category Archives: Midlands News

Manufacturing, Midlands, Midlands News, News

Servitization push set to deliver £800,000 sales boost for Alucast

One of the Black Country’s leading aluminium foundries is reaping the benefits of a move to ‘servitization’ and forecasts that it will add nearly 10% to its annual turnover.

Alucast, which employs over 100 people at its continuously growing factory in Wednesbury, has invested nearly £500,000 in new technology to ensure that it now offers customers access to Magmasoft casting simulation, prototyping and heat treatment.

The company has also expanded its CNC machining capacity to offer 5-axis machines and non-destructive testing, including X-Ray and dye-penetrant testing.

This strategy is boosting sales and the management team forecasts an additional £800,000 of turnover through customers accessing one-off services or using one element that then leads on to volume production in sand, gravity and high and low pressure castings.

Tony Sartorius, Chairman of Alucast, commented: “Manufacturing is extremely competitive, so the more value we can add to the customer, the more chance we will have of building strong, lasting relationships.

“Our business model was already unique in that we offered fully finished and machined castings from one source, and we decided to build on this by embracing servitization, developing new services that would deliver extra revenue streams.”

He continued: “Working with Aston University, we created a five-year strategy that would see us add a different offering every six months and we have now got to the stage where our customers can tap into anything from simulation software and advanced metrology to our recently launched full assembly offer.

“This approach will soon account for £800,000 of our turnover, which is roughly 10% of our annual sales. I fully expect this figure to grow as more people hear about what we do.”

Alucast offers sand, gravity and high and low pressure casting to a client base that spans automotive, fluid power, electrification and hydraulics.

Part of the Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), the company is currently enjoying the strongest order book in its 55-year history, and this includes technical support for one of the world’s largest automotive engineering agencies and full casting assembly for a 4×4 manufacturer.

The firm, which has recently been re-accredited to the TS16949 automotive quality standard, is also continuing to support carmakers and tier 1s with structural lightweight parts for use in next generation vehicles and electric cars.

Tony went on to add: “By offering these facilities to customers, it means we have eased supply chain complexities, allowing our clients to acquire fully functional parts ready for delivery at trackside at their premises with minimal delay.

“We still have lots of exciting plans for further additions, including ongoing training for our workforce, future collaborations with academia and the delivery of an 800-tonne die casting machine – the largest machine on our shopfloor.”

About MAN Group

Employing more than 1750 people across 13 different factories, the Manufacturing Assembly Network can offer every engineering discipline imaginable, including aluminium casting, automation and control systems, forging, plastic injection moulding, contract electronics manufacturing, precision machining, high-volume pressing, tube manipulation and welded assemblies.

In addition to Alucast, its members are Barkley Plastics, Brandauer, Grove Design, James Lister & Sons, Kimbermills International, Muller Holdings, Nemco and PP Control & Automation.

Hair and Beauty, Midlands News, News

Deliveroo-style barber service is so popular third mobile van is launched by innovative firm Grade 92

CONSUMERS are becoming more used to having shopping, food and drink delivered to their doorstep but now a barber company is seeing a boom in home haircuts booked via an app and brought to the doorstep Deliveroo-style in a mobile barber’s shop.

Bournemouth-based Grade 92, which already has two successful shops in the town, launched the service in a custom-converted van during lockdown. It was so popular a second went out on the road six months ago and now a third one in Wiltshire is up and running.

Partner Niall Coles, 26, works from the van, whose interior looks just like a traditional barber’s – complete with a salon-quality chair, bespoke lighting and even a refreshments fridge – and brings his services to people’s homes, offices, pubs and even a care home.

“People really like it because it is convenient,” said Mr Coles. “They don’t have to waste their evenings and weekends driving into town and trying to park, I can just pull up in their street or their place of work in their lunch break or after work.”

Customers book their visit via an app which asks for their location and type of haircut. It works out the barber’s travelling time and comes up with a suggested time slot, which can be amended, and a price.

“It’s becoming really popular with people living out in the villages where there isn’t a barber. The other day I was in the village of Broad Chalke near Salisbury and I did eight cuts,” said Mr Coles.

Using purpose-built van rather than someone’s kitchen or living room results in a better haircut, he said. “When you go to someone’s house you might not have the right lighting, you don’t have enough room and the chair is not always the correct height, which can make it difficult,” said Mr Coles. “The van gives you consistency because everything is set up perfectly.”

Although his customers are predominantly younger and prefer skin fades and beard trims, he regularly cuts older customers’ hair and the van has been to a care home. “It was quite heart-warming because a lot of the gentlemen living there don’t see many people outside,” he said. “It was lovely for them to come out and have a chat with different people. I’d love to do more of that.”

He has been to a wedding venue to cut the groom and his ushers’ hair as well as offices and is open to bookings for events, festivals or even markets.

Haircuts cost around £5 more than comparable trims in a regular salon. He said: “A few years ago you’d never dream that people would be happy to pay extra for a coffee and a sandwich to be delivered to their house rather than walk in and get it themselves but it’s all changing and this is just the next step.

“Our customers are really happy to pay extra for that little bit of convenience and I think that’s the way forward.”

Find out more at grade92.co.uk or find Mr Coles on Instagram at @niall.grade92mobilebarber.

Pictured: Niall Coles, a partner in Bournemouth barber Grade 92, with the Delievroo-style mobile salon that has just launched in Wiltshire

Events, Manufacturing, Midlands News, News

Global metalforming event returns to Birmingham after eighteen years away

More than 120 of the world’s leading sheet metal pressworkers will be heading to Birmingham in October as part of a major global manufacturing event.

The 20th ICOSPA (International Council of Sheet Metal Presswork Associations) Congress will return to the UK for the first time in 18 years, with the emphasis firmly on ‘New Tech, New Skills and New Challenges.’

Held over two days (19th-20th October), delegates from China, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the US and the UK will meet to discuss some of the biggest topics facing their sector, including innovative technologies transforming metalforming, how to deliver sustainable performance, bridging the skills gap and remaining profitable in the face of economic struggles.

They will hear keynote addresses from Francisco J. Riberas (Executive Chairman of Gestamp), Ian Harnett (Chairman of Tevva Electrical Trucks), Antonio Costa, (CEO of Congress Diamond Sponsor Kaizen Institute) and Gianfranco Ruggiero, (Senior Product Manager of Congress Gold Sponsor AutoForm Group).

Insights will also be delivered by Dan Hurd (EY-Parthenon) on global supply chain issues for the future and from Jianguo Lin (Imperial College London) on vehicle light-weighting.

Stephen Morley, President of the Confederation of British Metalforming, is in his fourth and final year as President of ICOSPA.

“This is one of the biggest industrial events in the calendar and we are looking forward to welcoming more than a hundred delegates from across the world to the original birthplace of the industrial revolution.

“Despite the challenges, Birmingham and the UK still has a strong and prosperous sheet metal and presswork sector and there is an appetite to understand the new technologies that are developing and how we can make the most of them.

“Our congress is headlined by some of the world’s leading voices in the sector, including the man who shaped the creation of Gestamp and the Chairman of one of the UK’s pioneering manufacturers of electric trucks.”

He continued: “This is very much a global event and is set to attract sheet metal pressworkers, suppliers, academics and metallurgists all keen to share best practice, views and ‘hacks’ on how to move forward as an industry. There’s a limited number of spaces still available if people are interested.”

The International Council of Sheet Metal Presswork Associations is the main platform for the cross-national exchange of the sheet metal engineering industry.

Over the past 50 years, the six member associations have represented the voices of over 12,300 companies and 600,000 employees throughout the world.

This year’s congress, which is also sponsored by Dayton Progress and AutoForm, starts on Wednesday 19th with two company visits to Brandauer in Birmingham and Gestamp’s new factory in Four Ashes, Wolverhampton.

The next day will see the National Metalforming Centre in West Bromwich host the main Congress, followed by the evening dinner at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham.

Stephen went on to add: “Our company visits are always a highlight of proceedings as delegates love getting out on the shopfloor and seeing how different firms operate.

“In Brandauer, we have one of the region’s most progressive and exciting SMEs and a manufacturer that is leading the way in the production of thin gauge laminations for electrification.

“Gestamp is a major tier 1 automotive supplier, and it will be great to see how its landmark new factory has come together to create a truly world class manufacturing environment.”

The presidency of ICOSPA will be passed to the Japan Metal Stamping Association during the two-day celebrations.

Other organisations present include the Precision Metalforming Association, The Confederation of Chinese Metalforming Industry, FIM Metaux en Feuilles and Industrieverband Blechumformung.

 

Apprenticeships, Awards, Midlands News, News

Apprenticeship stars recognised at eleventh In-Comm Training Awards

An advanced engineering & manufacturing apprentice from Telford was named as the region’s brightest vocational star last week.

Torus Measurement Systems’ James Morgan overcame competition from more than 100 apprentices across the West Midlands to secure the ‘Outstanding Learner of the Year’ title at this year’s annual In-Comm Training Awards.

More than 300 people packed into The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham to hear how the 24-year-old is working his way towards a degree by impressing on the shopfloor, helping deliver critical projects and, importantly, becoming a STEM ambassador that sees him go into schools to inspire the next generation.

The high-profile ceremony, which is backed by main sponsor the Engineering Technology Group (ETG), saw ‘girl power’ come to the fore again, with four out of the eight personal accolades won by females, illustrating how apprenticeships are increasingly for everyone.

Britney Biju (Collins Aerospace) won Engineering & Manufacturing Foundation – Telford, Jean Catchpowle (Gestamp) secured Quality & Continuous Improvement, whilst Emily Lander (M&A Doocey) and Tracy Reynolds (William King) were successful in the Business Support and Ambassador categories.

Companies were also recognised on the evening, with Billcar Precision Engineering winning the small employer award for the way it uses staff to develop young learners and Hoshizaki Europe taking the large employer accolade.

The latter has been a long-term supporter of vocational learning and has invested heavily in an apprentice scheme that spans all departments, including engineering, quality, manufacturing and business administration.

It also runs a scheme where apprentices are rewarded for their ideas on how to improve their role or the business.

Bekki Phillips, Chief Operating Officer at In-Comm Training, commented: “We are finally seeing the perceptions of apprenticeships change since Covid-19 and events like these are crucial to achieving that level of equality.

“Vocational learning shouldn’t be seen as the pathway you take if you don’t get good grades, that’s nonsense. We now have clear pathways in place where a learner can go all the way to a degree in less time than going to university, with the added benefits of hundreds of hours of real-life experience and zero debt.”

She went on to add: “Our finalists have demonstrated hard work, commitment, teamwork, innovation and, importantly, technical competences. They are already making a real difference to the companies they work for, and this is just the start.”

This was the eleventh year the In-Comm Training Awards have been held and gave nearly 50 finalists the opportunity to celebrate their achievements in front of their peers, mentors and employers.

Other winners included:

  • Christian Newey (IMI Norgren) – Engineering & Manufacturing Advanced at Aldridge
  • George Moore (Precision Technologies) – Engineering & Manufacturing Foundation at Aldridge
  • James Morgan (Torus Measurement Systems) – Engineering & Manufacturing Advanced at Telford
  • Oliver Eskriett (Brandauer) – Management & Leadership
  • Lewis Laidler (Hoshizaki Europe) – Most Improved Learner

The evening was also used to celebrate the life of Her Majesty the Queen, with guests marking the unrivalled service and dedication of Her Royal Highness.

Gareth Jones, Managing Director In-Comm Training, concluded: “The Awards have grown massively from when they first started and we want to them to continue to get bigger, as it’s a fantastic way of spreading the message about vocational learning and everything it has to offer.

“The apprentices rightly get the majority of the plaudits, but we shouldn’t forget the huge contribution and impact employers have on shaping the professionals and engineers of the future.”

The In-Comm Training Awards were made possible by headline sponsor the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) and other sponsors, including Aptem, Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Collins Aerospace, Crowe LLP, EAL Awards, FBC Manby Bowdler, In-Comm TMG, MyWorkwear and the West Midlands Apprentice Ambassador Network.

Awards, Food & Drink, Midlands, Midlands News, News

Speciality coffee roaster celebrates success seven times over at globally recognised awards

Shrewsbury-based speciality coffee roaster Iron & Fire is celebrating after an unprecedented seven of its coffee blends were awarded star status at one of the world’s most coveted food awards.

The Great Taste Awards are widely recognised as a stamp of excellence in the food and drink market and all products submitted for judging are blind tasted by a panel of experts.  Iron & Fire’s coffees have previously received awards in 2017, 2019 and 2021, but at the latest round of judging, seven of its coffees were recognised for their outstanding taste.

Iron & Fire’s ‘Severn Blend’ is a South American coffee and offers a full bodied and smooth coffee drink with rich chocolatey, nutty flavours.  The judges, when awarding it two stars, commented on its consistent, even roast and hazelnut tones. The other Iron & Fire blends recognised were: Colombian Jazz, Iron & Fire’s flagship coffee used by the best coffee houses and restaurants the length and breadth of the country; On the Rocks, a whiskey barrel aged coffee; Tutti Frutti; Choc a Bloc; Zewdu; and Mombassa Twilight.

Speaking of the awards, Iron & Fire’s founder Kev Burrows said:

“It’s great to be recognised for what we do.  Our goal is to produce great coffee that both consumers and coffee shop owners love, but it’s always reassuring to gain additional validation from those who judge our coffees purely on their taste.  The awarded coffees cover a huge spectrum of tastes and we have spent a lot of time carefully crafting roast profiles for all these coffees, so it’s nice to know the effort is appreciated.

“We’ve built a great team of people who are passionate about coffee, invested heavily in state-of-the-art equipment, and spent countless hours on our own research to perfect the coffees we produce and receiving these awards makes that all worth it.” 

Not resting on their laurels, the team at Iron & Fire have also been announced as a finalist in the Great British Food Awards with two blends shortlisted in the coffee category.  Kev concludes:

“2022 has been a hugely successful year for us as a team and to be recognised by the great and the good within speciality food and drink is hugely humbling.

“We don’t take success for granted, but we do put huge amounts of passion and hard work into all that we do, so when we’re recognised on a national stage with these awards it makes all that hard work worth it. We find out how we’ve fared at the Great British Food Awards at the end of October.”

Appointments, Midlands News, Wales News

Snowdrop Independent Living strengthens teams with new regional manager

Specialist mobility aids retailer and distributor Snowdrop Independent Living has appointed Michael Willetts as South Wales Regional Manager, as part of its new ambitious growth strategy.

 

With over two decades in the mobility field, Snowdrop has built an impressive reputation amongst clients and customers, growing from a single shop in Haverfordwest, to seven showrooms across the West Midlands and South Wales offering retail, installation and engineering services.

 

Michael Willetts brings almost 15 years of engineering industry and management experience to the role, which sees him take responsibility for ensuring customers continue to receive the highest quality of service and implementing best practice and working systems amongst the Snowdrop team.

 

David Morgan, Managing Director of Snowdrop Independent Living, said: “Michael is a respected, natural leader – his clear passion for the business and the wider industry is a real asset that is reflected across the whole team.

 

“Already a dynamic addition to Snowdrop, I look forward to seeing Michael play a key role in the business’ growth ambitions, strengthening processes, supply chains and the engineering division.”

 

As a business Snowdrop prides itself on its unique, understanding approach to mobility services, providing only the right equipment for the right reasons to help clients living with chronic illness, injury, or simply the challenges that can come with advancing age, achieve maximum wellbeing and mobility.

 

Commenting on his appointment, Michael said: “I am delighted to be joining Snowdrop and working with the teams across the two Cardiff, Swansea and Haverfordwest showrooms: each is unique in the way it serves communities and I look forward to supporting staff to provide the best service for our clients.

 

“In this sector particularly, it’s paramount that we offer tailored, functional products to each customer, from dressing and kitchen aids right through to stairlifts and mobility scooters, to help make a tangible difference to their daily life.”

 

Learn more about Snowdrop Independent Living at www.snowdropindependentliving.co.uk

Midlands News, News, Technology

Autonomous transport specialist takes AIM with flotation

One of the UK’s leading providers of transport technology solutions is planning to list on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange as it looks to accelerate growth across its aviation division.

Aurrigo International plc, which was formed 29 years ago by brothers David and Graham Keene, has raised £8m to fund strategic expansion plans that will see the continued development and future roll-out of its Auto-Dolly product, an autonomous vehicle for carrying cargo and luggage at airports around the world.

Located at its advanced engineering centre in Coventry, the new investment will be used to scale up future production and build on successful trials at Changi International Airport in Singapore and Gerald R Ford International Airport in North America.

More than 50 jobs are set to be created in the UK and at overseas sales and technical offices in North America and the Far East.

Prof. David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc, said: “The global transportation market is ripe for disruption. Aviation has significant structural constraints, with decades old technology/equipment and labour shortages hampering its recovery from Covid-19 and its long-term growth prospects.

“Our innovative, autonomous technologies are ready to revolutionise airport ground handling of baggage and cargo, and our Auto-Sim ‘digital twin’ modelling software can unlock efficiencies for all aspects of airport operations worldwide.

“With 29 years’ experience in the automotive sector and expertise in complex project delivery programmes means that we are very well positioned to deliver on these products, which have immense potential to solve a serious industry problem internationally.”

He continued: “An AIM IPO represents a significant milestone for Aurrigo and provides a platform to fulfil our potential whilst making a meaningful difference to airports, airlines, passengers and cargo around the world.”

Aurrigo International plc placed 41,666,667 ordinary shares at 48 pence per share on today’s listing, giving the company a market capitalisation at the commencement of dealings of £20million.

Singer Capital Markets acted as Nominated Adviser and Broker to the company.

About Aurrigo

Aurrigo International plc designs, engineers, manufactures and supplies OEM products and autonomous vehicles to the automotive, aviation and transport industries.

It is highly regarded as a specialist in autonomous and semi-autonomous technology solutions having invested heavily in developing its proprietary products and software.

This has helped the company create six autonomous vehicles – ranging from its four-seater Auto-Pod and ten-seater Auto-Shuttle to its Auto-Patrol security vehicle – that all reduce costs, resolve operational issues and tackle labour shortages

David Keene concluded: “The UK has always made it clear that it wants to lead the future mobility race and Aurrigo is one of a select number of companies that have developed autonomous technology solutions that have been proven to work in real-world environments, whether that is first or last mile city transport routes or moving cargo and luggage around airports.

“The AIM flotation is a milestone moment in our history and will give us the capital investment and profile we need to accelerate the future roll-out of our autonomous technology solutions.”

Midlands News, News

SLT’S ‘stand up for swimming’ success…

Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) staff are in the swim of things, despite a crippling swimming teaching shortage in the UK.  

Eight of them from across SLT’s Wednesbury, Cradley Heath and Oldbury centres have just passed the Swimming Teacher Full Course (Level 2) certificate, which expands their expertise to teach competitive strokes, survival and rescue skills, diving, plus racing starts and turns – and enables them to teach non-swimmers through to advanced participants.

This much needed and welcomed up-skilling is part of the STAnd Up For Swimming initiative by educational charity the STA, which has pledged over £10,000 of funding to train hundreds of new teachers for free around the UK.

The exciting move to improve grassroots swimming across the borough follows the announcement that another SLT employee, Emma Griffin based at Langley Swimming Centre in Oldbury, has achieved STA Aquatics; Full Swimming Teacher Tutor status following a rigorous assessment period.

SLT Business & Commercial Manager, Mark Wildman, said: “The industry has a major challenge with recruiting swimming teachers, but in Sandwell we are successfully growing our own and with two excellent tutors to run courses – in the established Keith Willetts who trained our enlightened eight, plus newly qualified Emma – this is a great step forward.

“We already have our next STAnd Up for Swimming teaching course taking place in October Half Term due to the success of the initial one. Swimming is very important as a life skill for everyone and is a top priority in Sandwell.

“Special thanks to the STA as well, because their free training meant we were able to fund an internal course for staff to support our own swimming lessons programme – as post pandemic staffing issues were in danger of having a detrimental effect.”

Midlands News, News

Major growth creates 25 new jobs at Corbetts the Galvanizers

More than 25 new jobs are up for grabs at one of Shropshire’s oldest manufacturers this weekend.

Corbetts the Galvanizers is holding a special open day on Saturday September 10th for people looking for work or a change in career, with shopfloor operatives, forklift truck drivers and sales administration roles all currently available for an immediate start.

The Telford-based company, which turned 160 years-old in 2020, has continued to see a major surge in demand for its services from the construction, street furniture, transport and agriculture sectors, with future orders already in the pipeline.

50 jobs have already been filled in the last twelve months, but this new growth means that further roles have been created and a suite of benefits put in place to attract the best talent.

This includes a £500 joining bonus, a weekly attendance bonus and opportunity to join the pension scheme.

Natalie Hughes, HR Manager at Corbett the Galvanizers, commented: “We are offering long-term jobs with great rates of pay, all backed up by the security that comes with working for a company with a 160-year history.

“The Open Day is designed to give people the chance to visit us at our Halesfield site and, over a cuppa and cake, we can show them our business, what we do and how they can play a vital role in our growth.

“Everyone is welcome as we will give full training and development and there are lots of opportunities for progression, with many of our senior team leaders starting with us and working their way up.”

Corbetts the Galvanizers has been supplying world class hot dip galvanizing to thousands of customers across the UK and Europe for 162 years.

This process is the most effective and environmentally friendly way to protect steel from the elements and provides a long-term solution to corrosion (rust) and maintenance free protection in excess of 100 years.

From its purpose-built facility in Telford, it operates several galvanizing baths that give it the opportunity to process in excess of 50,000 tonnes every year and the ability to double dip material up to a length of 14 metres.

“During the Open Day, we will also introduce them to the Iron Duke Academy, a new initiative that has been designed to help people get started in our sector and gives them clear pathways for progression in our business,” pointed out Natalie.

“There has been a lot of investment in training, both internally and bringing external specialists in. This equates to a bespoke plan for every employee that not only looks to give them the work skills we need, but also supports them with general life skills, such as English language and maths.”

Construction, Construction News, Midlands News, News

Construction boom leads to £120,000 investment in Bruderer high-speed press line

Taking advantage of new reshoring opportunities has seen a Warwick-based manufacturer invest more than £120,000 in its first high-speed press line with Bruderer UK.

JBS Products Ltd, known worldwide for its patented hook-on plaster bead, has installed a precision BSTA 25H press line at its Park Farm factory.

The machine is set to deliver greater accuracy and increased capacity, meaning the family-run business can guarantee process stability and part quality for its innovative building products that are bought direct or stocked in the likes of Selco, Travis Perkins and RJ Builders Hardware.

This new addition, which features advanced tooling automation, is set to be utilised on several new projects that are meeting the increasing demand for UK-manufactured products and will help deliver greater security of supply following significant global disruption.

“Having worked with Bruderer technology before, there was only one machine I wanted to have in our press shop when the opportunity came to expand,” explained Bud Dhinjan, Founder and CEO of JBS Products.

“We had enjoyed a number of reshoring successes and, in order to keep up with demand, we had to increase our press capability and that is why we decided to purchase a new BSTA 25H press line to give us that tremendous reliability and the famous Bruderer service.”

He continued: “Our reputation has been built on providing quality, innovative products that are cost effective and make the end-users life as simple and easy as possible, offering our wholesale customers a one-stop shop for design, product development and volume production.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have seen demand rocket, driving the employment of an additional five people and prompting investment in a further £250,000 onsite toolroom at our Warwick works to maintain a double shift pattern.”

Bruderer UK’s technical team worked with JBS to spec out the BSTA 25H, which consists of a precision feeder BBV 202/120, dual stock decoiler, cut-to-length system and full press line control.

Scott Baker, Technical Sales Manager at Bruderer UK, commented: “This machine will future-proof JBS’ production and delivers unrivalled speed, precision and reliability for the firm’s growing customer base. Bud and his team will also benefit from our full technical support and back-up for decades to come.”

Manny Dhinjan, Sales Director at JBS Products, concluded: “The installation process is going to be fully project-managed by Bruderer, meaning we can concentrate on meeting production increases and putting in place the platform we need to maximise several reshoring opportunities we are currently working on.”