Manufacturer set for record year after £4m investment

Brandauer, a Birmingham-based manufacturer with 164 years of history, is on track for a record year, driven by its new micron precision tooling capability.

The company, which exports 75% of its output to 26 countries, has recently secured over £1.2m in new orders, including its first 4-module progression tool, its first tooling design advisory contract, and a scalable e-motor lamination stack bonding tool, ideal for electrification.

A £4m investment in new machinery and a redesign of its 50,000 sq ft facility has boosted efficiency by 15%, with some production lines now running 250% faster.

The investment includes high-speed Bruderer UK and Yamada presses, a new 1-micron capable wire EDM machine, a state-of-the-art laser micro-cutter, and a new rapid prototyping area.

Brandauer is also addressing skills shortages with its apprenticeship program and its involvement in the UK’s first Precision Toolmaking Academy. Sales are expected to reach £9.5m this year, with a target of £11m by 2025/26.

The company recently received the King’s Award for Innovation from Derrick Anderson CBE, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands.

CEO Rowan Crozier MBE said: “For a West Midlands SME to win a Queen’s Award for international trade was special, to follow it up with a King’s Award in innovation is an unbelievable achievement from the team. The process is so rigorous, but an ideal opportunity to take the pulse of your business and recharge your future strategy for the next five to ten years and that’s exactly what we’ve done.

“Our micron precision tooling offer has been a real labour of love. However, we now have processes in place that de-risk the modular tooling route for customers, giving them the capability to produce their tools to the finest of margins and at a cost price (25% less than anywhere else in the world) that works. Days have also been taken out of production lead times and I’m delighted to say that 15 customers – from eight different sectors – have already signed up and are using tools made in this way.”