Business Masters: Re-investment the key to Sertec success
BIRMINGHAM automotive sector supplier Sertec Group, which yesterday won the Manufacturer award in TheBusinessDesk.com’s West Midlands Business Masters for the second year running, says its success is partly based on a huge investment in plant and equipment.
The firm, which is a tier one supplier to Jaguar Land Rover, had a storming year with turnover increasing from £73m to £102m over the 12 month period.
But it used a chunk of that money to ‘future proof’ its success by investing it back in the business.
The firm has invested £5.6m in plant and equipment this year already. The largest proportion of that was invested in the firm’s latest factory, a 110,000 sq ft facility in Tyseley, Birmingham, which it bought from DPE Automotive in 2011.
Some £2.7m was spent on commissioning 12 state of the art Fanuc robot cells for current work and to demonstrate technology and automated capacity for the future.
These cells are dedicated to welding and assembling components for the all new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles.
The firm has also taken on more staff to service its contracts with major automotive firms. It now employs 775 people.
To win the award, Sertec saw off strong competition from fellow Birmingham manufacturer Brandauer and Cradley Heath lift manufacturer Lift & Engineering Services.
Speaking at yesterday’s awards ceremony, Graham Mosedale, Sertec’s chairman, said: “A lot of our growth is from Jaguar Land Rover and from the great work they are doing. We are lucky enough to have access to their forward programme but holding onto their shirt tails will be a challenge going ahead.
“We are delighted to have won this award for the second time and will continue with the good work we have been doing. We have a good team and it’s down to them and their work that we are continuing to grow.”
The Masters awards were voted for by TheBusinessDesk.com readers after shortlists in the six categories were drawn up by an eminent judging panel.
The Manufacturer award was sponsored by Baker Tilly.
