Manufacturer takes advantage of strong demand to implement expansion

A Warwickshire manufacturer has taken advantage of strong demand for its products by pressing ahead with expansion plans.

Consol Converging Solutions, which supplies packing machines to the food industry, said Brexit and the fall in the value of the pound had made its exports significantly cheaper, and it was now looking to exploit this.

While remaining on the Waterloo Business Park in Bidford-on-Avon, it is moving from its existing unit to a larger one on the same estate.

With a total of 8,500 sq ft at its disposal, the family-owned firm is now looking to recruit new staff.

Managing director James Cruickshank said the family business was targeting electrical and mechanical engineers, designers and also apprentices to supplement its existing 20-strong workforce.

He said: “We wanted to stay in the locality because it is central to where our people live – they come from Birmingham to the north and Cheltenham to the south.

“This is a big move for us, but we are desperately needing the extra space.”

The £3.5m turnover company, which hopes to complete the move during the summer, supplies supermarkets including Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and Sainsburys.

However, 70% of its orders are from abroad, with Germany and Spain amongst its larger markets, while it also supplies France, Holland, Belgium, the United States and Australia.

“Our exports are becoming increasingly more attractive,” said Mr Cruickshank. “But we aren’t getting carried away. We will see how it all pans out over the coming years.

“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in overseas interest even prior to Brexit and are working with a wider range of customers operating in sectors outside of the food industry.”

Ian Parker, a director of agents John Truslove, which acted for the landlord, said: “It is great to see a quality business as good as Converging Solutions continuing to expand and grow.”