Taking the weight out of the equation delivers £3m contract boost

Alucast, which is one of the UK’s largest independent aluminium foundries, has secured over £3 million of new contracts from car makers keen to explore ways of reducing weight on future models.

Backed by support from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Black Country LEP and the Black Country Growth Deal, it has opened additional facilities adjacent to its Wednesbury headquarters to cope with the expansion, giving the company an additional 7,000ft² of dedicated machining space to work with.

“The automotive industry continues to move to lighter vehicles as car makers look at ways where they can meet emission targets and improve fuel performance,” said Alucast chairman Tony Sartorius.

“We have been working on this approach for some time, supporting some of the world’s most prestigious OEMs to design and cast lighter components to what they’ve been using previously.

“This is now paying off with £3 million of new contracts secured in the last twelve months alone, with the promise of a lot more to come if we continue to invest in our capabilities, our design team and our rapidly growing machine shop.”

He continued: “It’s great news for the Black Country as we will be creating tens of new jobs towards the end of the year when volumes come onstream and it’s a positive shot in the arm for local manufacturing with Brexit on the horizon.”

Alucast, which is on course for £8.5 million annual sales, specialises in providing aluminium castings for a global customer base involved in automotive, agriculture, hydraulics and the oil and gas industry.

Investment in a new £175,000 dye penetrant facility, combined with more than 50,000ft² of manufacturing space, gives it the flexibility to offer low, medium and high-volume production.

The management has recently signed off the £400,000 acquisition of three 5-axis CNC machines from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) in Wellesbourne, which will help it supply final machined parts to the customer.

Alucast is part of the Manufacturing Assembly Network, an eight-strong group of subcontract manufacturers and an engineering design agency who work together to win orders and share best practice and resource.

Alucast www.alucast.co.uk

Manufacturing Assembly Network www.man-group.co.uk