Manufacturer charts growth after £1m order boost

A BLACK Country foundry is charting growth after securing more than £1m of new orders in the last six months.

Willenhall-based Midland Pressure Diecasting (MPD), which employs 65 people across two sites on Ashmore Lake Way, has seen clients from the automotive, leisure and telecommunications sector tap into its ability to offer a single source solution within the foundry sector.

The company will shortly start supplying complex components for a new stand for a VOIP telephony product, interlock systems and parts for a collapsible table.

Although diverse in nature, the orders have all been secured due to customers wanting shorter lead times, greater quality and, in some cases, reduced costs.

“We are now reaping the benefits of our strategic decision to control as many of the processes under one roof as possible and this has created an outstanding facility capable of high pressure aluminium and zinc casting, toolmaking and precision machining,” said Ash Suman, who founded the business in 2000.

“Customers increasingly want to rationalise their supply chains to increase speed to market and avoid any potential risks and we have certainly taken advantage of that. We can basically work on an initial concept and contribute to design for manufacture, preparation of the tooling, the actual casting process and then – using CNC machining – provide the finished part.

“There are not many organisations that can still offer these services in-house in the UK and this has paved the way for the three recent contracts wins, worth an estimated £1m.”

To support its growth strategy the firm has Invested in skills with the addition of four employees from a local foundry that ceased trading in April, plus two apprentices.

It has also acquired land at the back of its premises in Ashmore Lake Way, giving it another two-acres of development space to increase its manufacturing footprint in line with future demand.

“It is difficult to find the specialised skills that are required within our trade and therefore we value experienced staff who can not only contribute to our business, but also pass on their skills to the next generation,” said Mr Suman.

“Our growth plans depend on us having a flexible and skilled workforce and investment in both young people and more experienced employees continues to be one of our core philosophies.”

MPD offers aluminium and zinc high pressure die casting services to customers in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, hydraulic, gas, hardware and leisure.

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