Strong automotive sector helps press manufacturer achieve record results

A STOURBRIDGE manufacturer has enjoyed a record year, with turnover doubling to almost £3m.

Worcester Presses, which provides a range of mechanical and hydraulic presses and coil processing equipment from its Titan Works factory, sold more than 50 machines last year following strong growth in the UK’s automotive, aerospace and construction sectors.

It even completed its first export order to the US, with a reconditioned high-speed press prepared and sent to a customer in Detroit for use in producing riveted aluminium parts.

All this resulted in the firm achieving a turnover of £2.8m, the best in its 67-year history.

The firm has had to take on an additional five people in order to cope with demand and now has a workforce of 13 at its 15,000 sq ft premises.

It is now looking to repeat its 2015 success and is targeting events such as the MACH 2016 trade show at the NEC in April to try and secure new orders.

Russell Hartill, Sales Director at Worcester Presses, said: “We’ve never seen demand reach this level before, especially in such a short space of time.  If you think we’ve more than doubled turnover, you begin to understand the scale of what we’ve achieved.

“There has been specific interest in our Chin Fong range of presses, with 27 sold since last January – most from stock due to faster deliveries.”

Demand has been strong in the automotive supply chain with four of the machines destined for automotive suppliers.

The firm has even beaten off international competition thanks to its ability to customise the machines to suit individual requirements.

On the back of increased sales, there has also been expansion in the firm’s servicing department, with the recruitment of a new manager, engineer and fitter.

“A strong range of high quality presses (both mechanical and hydraulic), excellent servicing team and an ability to source, prepare and install machines either from stock in the UK or within a six month timeframe have all contributed to our success,” said director Charles Higgins.

“There have been many highlights in 2015, but my personal favourites were the sale of a 600-tonne Yeh Chiun hydraulic press to a leading UK car maker and a heavy-duty straight-sided 500 tonne Chin Fong press to a major automotive supplier.”