Neptune set to help automotive supplier reach for the stars

AN innovative automotive supplier is looking to press ahead with its growth plans, aided by shareholder investment and a new product.

Warwickshire-based Autins Group, which designs, manufactures and supplies acoustic and thermal insulation products for the automotive sector, completed a successful float on the London Stock Exchange in August.

Jim Griffin, the firm’s CEO, said in a trading update the board had been delighted with the quality and breadth of its new shareholders.

“Alongside this, significant investment in the group has been made in 2016 in support of growth in 2017 and beyond,” he said.

“The board’s focus for the year ahead is to pursue the group’s growth opportunities in line with Autins’ three pillars of expertise in Specialist Component Manufacturing, Specialist Materials Manufacturing and Innovation and Research.

“In this way, the board intends that Autins will offer a growing and broader range of high quality products and competencies in supply capability across multiple sectors.”

Much of the focus for next year will be on Neptune, the group’s lightweight, high performance material, with full production capability at a new plant in Birch Coppice expected before the end of the year.

Neptune has been developed to meet the automotive industry’s demand for innovation, especially on weight-saving materials.

It is now approved by seven automotive OEMs, having recently secured an additional European OEM. In addition, the group has acquired a leading global Tier 1 supplier of convertible roofs to the automotive sector as a customer.

Neptune has also garnered interest from a number of non-automotive sectors, including modular housing.

“The board anticipates that this non-automotive interest will continue to build through 2017, particularly with the benefit of the new and more focused sales resource,” the group said.
 
Since the IPO, the group has exercised its right with Iksung to licence a high performance, three layer material, to be marketed as Ozone, which will bring a lightweight high performance sound barrier material to the automotive sector, complimenting the Neptune sound absorbing material. The group is already piloting applications and testing with OEMs.  

Further updates on progress with Ozone will be made in due course.