185 jobs at risk as manufacturing group appoints administrators

Credit: Rical

A Black Country manufacturing group has collapsed into administration, placing 185 jobs at risk.

The Rical Group, headquartered in Smethwick, manufactures fine blanking, metal pressings and fabrications for customers across sectors such as automotive, defence, jewellery, construction and catering.

Administrators at Evelyn Partners have been appointed to the parent group Rical and its subsidiaries: William Mitchell, Fellows, Multiforms, Taurus and its jewellery subsidiaries Priory Products and H.A. Light Findings.

The historic group dates back to 1824 when William Mitchell, based in Smethwick, started trading as a presswork company, manufacturing the first commercially produced metal pen nibs.

Formally known as SJ & E Fellows and established in 1895, Fellows is based near the centre of Wolverhampton and is a manufacturer and supplier of presswork and commercial catering equipment.

Taurus Engineering is a precision sheet metal fabricator founded in 1985 and based in Sussex, it was incorporated into the Rical Group in 1997.

In its latest accounts filed at Companies House for the year ending 31 August 2023, Rical reported a loss before tax of £932k (2022 – £845k) on a decreased turnover of £16.3m (2022 – £17.5m).

It said: “The difficult trading environment of the prior year continued in 2022/23. These losses are after recording expenses and finance costs in connection with the group’s defined benefit pension schemes of £506k (2022 – £667k).

“Rical’s performance post the August 2022/23 year end has significantly improved, and this improvement is expected to continue”.

Evelyn Partners said it did not have any comment to make regarding the administration.

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