Aerospace supplier sees record growth after £3.5m investment
A Black Country aerospace supplier is experiencing record levels of growth following a £3.5m investment and expansion into North America.
Erodex UK, based in Halesowen, is a leading supplier of EDM graphite and tooling to the aerospace market.
It has seen overall turnover increase 20% during the last financial year, a performance that follows previous record years for the firm. The growth has been a direct result of the investment, specifically targeted at work within the aerospace and industrial turbine sectors.
Director Steve Rolinson said: “We have experienced significant growth on the tooling side of the business, which in fact is the fastest growing part of the Erodex group,” he said.
“The decision to invest in our own tool rooms and dedicated tooling inspection facilities has given us a real point of differentiation in the market. As well as designing the optimum electrode, the electrode holder and work piece holder, Erodex design and manufacture the whole package, all with a single point of contact. This is unique in our market and we are seeing more and more customers buying into this mindset because of cost and time savings.”
As well as picking up a number of new clients in China and Israel, the company has benefitted from its decision to establish a new £2m facility in Virginia, North America as well as investing £1.5m in a new UK tool room and machine shop.
It said the decision to create a new UK tool room had enabled the firm to produce its own tooling in house – particularly that with a significant amount of intellectual property. Doing so allows for tighter quality control, greater support and the carrying out of function trials by its own toolmakers prior to release.
The decision to expanded into North America followed a request from one of its biggest customers.
“Rolls Royce Group announced they were opening a new turbine blade facility in Virginia and Erodex were asked to support that as a result of our long term working relationship with them,” added Mr Rolinson.
“This started off with us supplying graphite electrodes from the UK, however as their Virginia operation grew, we entered conversations about starting a tool room there so we could offer the same fixture care and repair as well as inspection/trialling of tools in Virginia that we would do in the UK.”
To facilitate the growth, Erodex has also expanded its workforce by 10%, taking it above 100. Those recruited include three experienced aerospace tool makers, a tooling manager, two project managers, designers and more CNC operators. A group quality manager and group quality engineer were also recruited as part of a move towards industry certifications.
