Strong automotive demand provides Birmingham supplier with £1m contract boost

STRONG demand from the UK’s automotive industry has led to a £1m boost for a Birmingham plastic injection moulding specialist.

Barkley Plastics – a member of the Midlands Assembly Network – has secured a series of new work programmes including interior parts and light guides for several major automotive OEMs as well as a rapidly expanding supercar manufacturer.

The new orders follow a hugely successful twelve months for the firm that has seen it take on 15 new staff, exceed sales targets and invest more than £500,000 in new machinery.

The new EDM machine, a 650 tonne injection mould press, a 420 tonne press and new cranes have given the firm the capacity to produce larger components and the ability to manufacture more than 50 million mouldings every year, not just for automotive clients but customers involved in construction, electronics, medical and retail.

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“We have always been a trusted supplier to the tier 1s and car makers and that is what the business has been built on…having said that, the last eighteen months has been some of our most successful in this arena,” said Matt Harwood, Business Development Manager at Barkley Plastics.

“Investment in the domestic auto sector has gone through the roof and we have certainly benefitted from being located close to a number of major plants. There is also a willingness to buy parts from the UK, with many of the orders we’ve secured won back from overseas.”

Employing 115 people at its Highgate factory, Barkley offers a host of manufacturing solutions including injection moulding, gas injection moulding, two shot moulding and the recently introduced in-weld mould capability.

In addition to the automotive contracts, the firm’s team of designers, engineering and production specialists are responsible for delivering parts to leading retailers, household product manufacturers and large medical and electronics processors.

The company’s own brand – ‘Plasfloor’ – has also become a leader in industrial PVC flooring, bringing in £500,000 of revenue since its introduction.

“Our involvement in the Midlands Assembly Network (MAN), a group of nine sub-contract manufacturers, has been hugely beneficial,” added Mr Harwood.

The Midlands Assembly Network provides expertise in automation, casting, CNC machining, control systems, design, forgings, high volume precision pressings, PCB manufacture, prototyping, sheet metal fabrication and stamping.

In addition to Barkley Plastics, its member companies are: Alucast, Brandauer, Grove Design, KimberMills International, Mec Com, Muller England, PP Electrical Systems and SMT Developments.