Coventry auto firm targets growth after diversifying into composites

AN automotive company in Coventry is gearing up for growth by diversifying its operation and expanding its premises.

HPL Prototypes, based on the Windmill Industrial Estate in Allesley, specialises in creating prototypes from computer-aided designs for global automotive, aerospace and marine companies.

The 30-strong company is now moving into composite materials to enable it to produce entire prototypes from the design stage to production. The company is hoping the venture will help create a number of new jobs.

A high-tech design studio and production area is to be built using a grant from round four of the Regional Growth Fund and an Innovation Networks grant from Coventry University Enterprises. Supporting the firm has been Clearing House, the one-stop support and advice organisation formed by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership as part of its City Deal bid.

Stuart LeCornu, chief executive officer of HPL Prototypes, said the grants would help the business to significantly expand.

“Our business is focused on working with the design studios of our customers and we have been extending our studio capability so that we can do more work for our current and new customers,” he said.

“We also want to develop the business into composite materials so we will have small production run areas.

He said the company was trying to link traditional design with modern composite materials so that it could integrate the two rather than have them work independently.

“The work we are doing with Clearing House is to create that niche and to bring our workforce up to the technical requirements needed for the new area of the business,” he said.

“Our workforce will grow by up to 10 people and we have had help through Skills 4 Growth to recruit two graduate placements in project management and process control as part of the Clearing House’s remit to help businesses,” he said.

“The Clearing House has been really valuable not only in terms of gaining grants but we have also been signposted to companies such as the Warwick Manufacturing Group’s Automotive Composites Research Centre and we are attending industry networking events which are really useful.”

Partners involved in Clearing House include the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, UKTI, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry University, the University of Warwick and the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

Phil Peak, an account manager at the Clearing House, said HPL Prototypes has world-class expertise and vast experience in producing automotive prototypes.

“HPL Prototypes is a growing, diversifying company on a site in Coventry which has produced cars for the last 60 years.

“This is an exciting new era as they expand into another sector since further jobs and facilities will be created.”

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