Fresh investment at firm backed by RGF funding

A&M EDM is investing at its Park Rose Industrial Estate factory in Middlemore Road.

Director Melvin Wingfield said the RGF support was thanks to the efforts of the Black Country Consortium and Wolverhampton City Council.

The new investment by the company, which employs 50 between its sites in Mornington Road and Middlemore Road, will secure four jobs and was accessed via the Black Country Growth Hub.

Mr Wingfield praised the 'excellent' work of the council, which operates the local fund on behalf of the consortium, in securing the funding for which A&M EDM was able to show would increase its workforce and help sustain the business.

A&M EDM has already been able to add two more Hurco machining centres to its extensive range. They are a VMX84Ti and a VMX42Ti as well as the largest wire eroding machine in the country.

A Sodeck AQ1200 linear wire eroding machine, which is the largest in the country, is also being added along with a Hexagon metrology machine which is now housed in a specially constructed, climate controlled, clean room.

A Rofin-Baasel open laser machine, which can be taken out to jobs, completes the new additions.

The firms says the investment means that work that previously had to be outsourced can now be completed in-house, improving turnaround times for customers. Mr Wingfield said: "Increasing our compliment of machinery has been vital to ensure our capacity can meet with customer demand and that is why this funding from the Regional Growth Fund has been a fundamental part of our expansion programme. We have received nothing but support and guidance from the Black Country Consortium and our key point of contact, Mark Godson at Wolverhampton City Council, has expertly guided us right through the application process and beyond.

"This funding is an important step in our growth programme. We know our customers rely on us to manufacture high-precision parts and tools with a very quick turn-round and our new machinery will allow us to better serve existing customers, as well as giving us the ability to attract more new business."

The second manufacturing site within 100 yards of its original site in Smethwick was officially opened in January by Warley MP John Spellar.

The company, which was founded in 2002, previously received £475,000 through the Regional Growth Fund to support the investment of nearly £3 million in the new site.

The company took on 14 new people at the new factory which was part of the old Birmingham Railway and Carriage Works, which closed in 1963.

The family-run company had also invested in nine hi-tech machining centres to significantly increase its spark erosion, milling, grinding and turning capabilities. It works in a variety of materials including aluminium, steel, bronze and copper.

Companies in the Black Country can access specialised support and funding through the Black Country Growth Hub at www.bcgrowthhub.com