Manufacturer relocates to Alcester following investment
A rubber hose manufacturer has moved to Warwickshire, to facilitate its growth strategy following a unanimous vote from shareholders in March.
Goodflex Rubber, which manufactures and supplies rubber hoses, mouldings and assemblies by moving its entire operations to a larger location in Alcester.
The company and its 38 employees have left its 8,000 sq ft site in Honeybourne, Worcestershire, to a new 32,000 sq ft facility.
£500,000 has been invested after the company has had a 70% increase in revenue over the last three years.
Help and advice has been received regarding funding from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub.
Mark Dufty, managing director at Goodflex Rubber, said: “We analysed a number of locations ahead of the planned move before deciding that Alcester was the best location in terms of size, transport links and connections to a strong, regional manufacturing industry.
“The support provided by the Growth Hub and Coventry City Council was essential to planning and executing the relocation, which will be crucial to achieving our growth targets within the next three years.”
Goodflex Rubber received grants from the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme and the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme, which is being delivered by Coventry City Council, Coventry University, and Coventry University Enterprises Ltd.
Improvements made include the refurbishment of cladding and the exterior of the building, purchase of a bay lift and a new CNC Oscillating Cutting machine which will increase capacity by 200% to boost sales growth.
In addition The Green Business Programme grant helped to fund the replacement of 72 metal halide light fittings in the factory with new intelligent energy-efficient fittings alongside fans to help with heat retention and installing of heating ventialiton and air conditioning systems.
Both programmes are partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Bernie McCullagh, a business energy advisor with the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme at Coventry City Council, said: “It’s great to see the local economy growing without having a negative impact on the environment.
“By making energy efficiency improvements to their lighting, ventilation systems and machinery, Goodflex reduced their CO2 emissions by 133.77 tonnes per year. We hope that more businesses in the region will also utilise our support to reduce their carbon emissions.”
The relocation and improvements have enabled the business to double its raw material process capacity, which has proved crucial at a time when material shortages, price increases and supply chain disruption have impacted businesses.
It has also been helped by the Growth Hub to develop links with the Manufacturing and Technology Centre (MTC), and Aston University’s Innovation Programme ahead of potential research collaborations.
