Industrial equipment supplier sees record year

A Derby industrial equipment supplier has credited its record year to the surge in demand for advanced manufacturing and 3D printing systems.

Carfulan Group has seen revenues rise by 14% to £19.2m, creating six new jobs as a result.

The firm has expanded its sales team and introduced several new products under its OGP UK, ZOLLER UK, SYS Systems, Metrios, and VICIVISION brands, aiming to achieve a £40m target by 2030 for the family-run business.

Chris Fulton, joint managing director, said: “Manufacturing has entered a new era of global competitiveness and our customers, whether they are OEMs, tier 1s or further down the supply chain, are all looking for ways to save costs, increase capacity and improve quality. 

“This is where we come into the equation. Our range of advanced metrology solutions gives them the opportunity to reduce the amount of downtime in their machining operations and the confidence that the parts they are producing are going to be right the first time.”

Established in 1989, Carfulan Group has grown into a partner for various industries, aiding in design, manufacturing, and measurement.

The company has invested over £2.5m in a demonstration centre in Derbyshire, showcasing its six technologies and software solutions, including Prolink and Discus.

From this hub, Carfulan Group customises its metrology and 3D printing systems to meet customers’ specific needs, offering aftercare support, training, servicing, and maintenance.

Fulton continued: “Getting the right people into our business has been important to our growth, with the workforce now topping sixty for the first time. Recent recruitment has seen us take on experienced specialists in our field and more apprentices who are making the most of our partnership with the JCB Academy.

“This involves enrolling budding engineers into a three-year tailored programme where they attend JCB for their general engineering qualification and then have access and learning to all our different technologies. It has been a real success story.”