Engineering firm makes five-figure investment
An engineering firm in Coventry has had a five-figure makeover as it gears up for further growth.
ActOn Finishing in Torrington Avenue, a surface finishing technology provider in the healthcare, aerospace, automotive and motorsport sectors, has transformed its test laboratory after receiving support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub.
ActOn Finishing was referred by Coventry City Council to the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme, and applied for a grant of £7,500 towards modernising the laboratory which is used to demonstrate products to new and existing clients.
The Growth Hub also helped ActOn Finishing apply for £9,000 from the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme, which is also being delivered by Coventry City Council, to replace halogen bulbs throughout its premises with LED lighting.
The support provided, together with the grants, are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The grant funding has resulted in the conversion of all lighting throughout the site to LED lighting to improve the visual aspects within many of their production processes,
leading to around 32tonnes of Co2 emission savings per year and reduced energy costs.
Sid Gulati, operations director at ActOn Finishing, said: “We have been developing new automatic machines to reduce manual handling and we will now be able to showcase these – very mindful of social distancing rules – in our test laboratory which was work long overdue.
“We use this area to demonstrate and develop new processes which is key to winning new business.
“The grant has also meant we have been able to improve our sales office by installing a new floor, painting the walls and adding new branding which better reflects our standing within a specialised industry.
“We have also been conscious of our carbon footprint and have replaced hundreds and hundreds of halogen bulbs with LED lighting throughout our site.
“The Growth Hub has been extremely supportive and pointed us in the right direction to apply for grants which we hadn’t realised we would qualify for.”
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council, said: “The grants, along with the company’s investment, have helped to create a more professional image, as well as aiding them to reduce their energy bills alongside lowering their carbon footprint.
“The grant funding is an easy process for businesses to apply for as the team help with the full application process, so I would encourage local organisations to apply for the grant funded programmes that are being provided by the council.”
