Arrowsmith flying high
Jason Aldridge shows Business Minister Mark Prisk investments at Arrowsmith Engineering
A £1m investment at Arrowsmith Engineering has helped it win a string of orders from the aerospace, F1 and energy sectors.
The Coventry-based company has tapped into support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands (MAS-WM) to embark on a major growth surge that has already seen it increase turnover by 20% over the last twelve months.
New orders include contracts for complex engine and actuation parts for some of the world’s leading primes, including Rolls Royce, Goodrich, Pattonair and Meggit.
The success follows a £1m investment drive that has seen it complete its headquarters, increase floor space by a third (to 15,000 sq ft) and invest in new facilities, ranging from a thread rolling laboratory and grinding capability to a 5-axis machine and 3 CNC lathes.
Jason Aldridge, managing director, provided an insight into the vision:
“We are working to a five year business plan that will see us move from a £1.8m turnover to a firm that is commanding in excess of £4m in annual sales...naturally up to ten new jobs could be created as a result of this growth.”
He continued: “Our growth has been based on establishing more strategic partnerships with our clients that see us work even closer with them to improve quality, on time delivery and offer them added value design.
“This approach has reaped dividends and we now hold approved supplier status with Rolls Royce in Canada, Germany, Singapore and the UK, Goodrich, Bombardier and Eaton. We are also taking this same strategy with the energy firms we currently work with.”
Arrowsmith Engineering, which employs 39 people, provides turning, milling and grinding services in both large volume and low quantities, including after sales, development projects and aliens and strangers.
It has diversified its offer to become a global specialist in high precision, complex components in exotic metals with many parts being used in the Rolls-Royce Trent series engines used on the Airbus A380, A350 and the Boeing 747 and 787.
A commitment to quality has also seen it secure ASEN 9100 and ISO14001, with the firm already being backed by Goodrich to work towards the increasingly popular SC21 standard.
Jason, who became MD in 2009, picked up the story:
“MAS-WM has been an important driver in our expansion with specialist adviser Peter Jones providing constant mentoring and help on specific projects, including the layout of the new factory, links to probing trials and giving us access to new machinery and technology.
“The latest project is working with one of its cluster groups on securing a bronze SC21 award, an objective we hope to achieve in the next year.”
The local manufacturer was also quick to praise the recent announcement that MAS will continue to offer in-depth support through a national service with on-the-ground regional delivery.
Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in 2012 will continue to deliver a national service to all manufacturing businesses in England.
It is aiming to create £1.5bn in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs.
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