Manufacturer invests £0.5m to expand production volumes
A Black Country engineering company has invested in an upgrade to its manufacturing capabilities in order to expand its product range.
Cold roll formed products supplier EWS (Manufacturing) is targeting significant sales growth in a host of new markets as a result of the £500,000 investment.
The Wolverhampton company, part of Arc Specialist Engineering Group, worked closely with high-speed press specialist Bruderer UK and turned to it to install the new equipment.
EWS has installed its first 250-tonne Zani ‘Power Master’ press and is now ramping up production as it aims to provide annual volumes of several million units.
Russ Cooper, Technical Director at EWS, said: “A large proportion of our sales is directed to supplying steel reinforcement for the fenestration sector and, whilst this will remain a core part of the business, our intention is to expand our cold rolled expertise into new markets.
“To achieve this, we needed to invest in a different type of machine that was faster than what we had and could accommodate the intricate nature of the products we are targeting. I’d previously worked with Zani presses and knew how reliable and flexible they were and the type of stroke performance per minute they deliver.”
EWS, which employs 70 people at its 40,000 sq ft factory, has now appointed Bruderer UK to deliver ongoing service and maintenance to the new equipment.
It is also exploring the possibility of installing a second press as part of ambitious investment plans to further modernise its production capabilities.
Andy Cole, sales manager at Bruderer UK, project managed the installation. He said the firm had seen a surge in interest for Zani presses over the last 12 months.
Adrian Haller, managing director at Bruderer UK, said: “The project was demanding in terms of meeting the stringent timescale, but was fantastic in showcasing how – working alongside partners such as Formit – we can build bespoke turnkey solutions for a complete production line.
“This is the first time we have worked with EWS and we are delighted to be playing a part in its diversification and growth.”
Bruderer UK, which employs 13 people at its headquarters in Luton, has enjoyed a record 12 months, with turnover set to pass £5m for the first time in its history in this country.
Pictured are: Adrian Haller (Bruderer UK), Russ Cooper (EWS) and Andy Cole (Bruderer UK).
