MAN targets renewables to build on £5m of orders

MIDLAND manufacturing collaboration MAN is targeting the renewable energy sector for growth after securing contracts worth more than £5m.

MAN, which is a group of nine manufacturing firms from across the West Midlands, has seen demand for its technical expertise from companies involved in sectors such as LED lighting, wind and solar power and alternative fuels.

More than 50 jobs have already been created through the work and the organisation believes this could treble if further contracts are secured.

One of the partnership’s nine members, PP Electrical Systems is benefiting from increasing demand in the solar cell industry.

The Cheslyn Hay-based company designs and builds the electric and electronic systems and cabling for the automated lines used to manufacture these cells, with the vast majority being exported to Asia.

This work now accounts for 15% of the firm’s £24m annual turnover and is expected to grow with the addition of further orders from LED light manufacturers.

“Renewables is a growing market and one that is keen to embrace the skills and world class manufacturing processes we already employ when serving established industries,” said Tony Hague, managing director of PP Electrical Systems.

He said at least five MAN members were already working within the low carbon supply chain, ranging from Barkley’s toolmaking expertise in solar power transfer material to Wrekin Circuits’ servicing of LED rail signalling.

“We are now seeing enquiries starting to come in for offshore wind generation and this is set to increase with the Government’s sustained investment in 67,000 wind turbines and a number of overseas producers looking to set up manufacturing sites here,” added Mr Hague.

Three MAN members have also tapped into support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service-West Midlands’ new product development initiative. This involves work on the development of an alternative fuel source for a global technology business.

It marks the largest project yet for the group and will initially draw on the skills of Advanced Chemical Etching and precision press worker Brandauer’s progression tooling capability.

“Volumes are worth about £300,000 at the moment, but the longer-term projection is going to be about £2.5m per year,” said David Spears, managing director of Brandauer.

“What is even more pleasing is that this project illustrates the key benefits of using MAN, which basically means companies can use one, two, three or all member companies depending on their needs.”

The renewables project already involves ACE, Brandauer itself and Westley Engineering, the latter working on some lower volume tooling.

“Future work could involve a further two members and the nature of the contracts means we could yet use the full collective,” added Mr Spears.