Black Country castings firm announces £1.2m expansion plans

Alucast

A Black Country castings firm has revealed plans for a £1.2m expansion as demand increases for its products.

Wednesbury-based Alucast will start work on the development in June. The facility will accommodate its new technical centre and machine shop.

The company, which is marking its 50th anniversary, said the extension would house its existing CAD and MAGMA casting simulation facilities, non-destructive testing capabilities and the firm’s new five-axis CNC technology.

The development is part of an ambitious strategy that will see the company target up to £3m of new ‘lightweighting’ opportunities for complex castings in the automotive and agricultural markets.

The expansion will be matched by an increase in the company’s workforce, with plans to recruit another 20 employees, including engineers and apprentices.

The eventual aim is to break through the £10m sales barrier.

John Swift, the firm’s managing director, said: “50 years in business is a massive achievement and during that time we’ve seen plenty of ups and downs, including major contract wins such as completing the top and bottom caps for the London 2012 Olympic Torch and the brake calipers for Bugatti Veyron, alongside recessions that have really challenged the business.

“2017 will be a year where we celebrate our history and the achievements of our staff, but it will also be a time where we put a marker in the sand for the next 50 years. Alucast has progressed a long way from a local jobbing shop foundry to an international aluminium foundry capable of competing with our global rivals by offering customers a complete supply service.”

Alucast, which holds the automotive TS16949 quality accreditation, was formed in 1967 by Mike Clayton as a small sand foundry based in Bentley Mill Road.

Over the years it added gravity casting to its repertoire and moved several times across the Black Country before ending up at its current home in Western Way in 2002.

Twelve months later, the business was purchased by the current management team of Tony Sartorius and John Swift and this prompted the start of a 10-year plan to become a single source supplier of aluminium castings to our customers.

Today, Alucast boasts annual sales of £7m and employs 105 people, working with clients across automotive, agriculture, hydraulics, vacuum and electrical goods.

Mr Sartorius, the firm’s chairman, said: “We are already working with luxury vehicle manufacturers and there’s a lot of interest in bringing work back to the UK. This investment in the new technical centre and machining shop, which is being supported by Sandwell Borough Council, means we’re in a prime position to take advantage of it and reinforce our position as a global leader in structural and other complex components.”

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