Investment boost at thriving Darlaston forgemaster George Dyke

The firm, which has been forging work since about 1830, closed its old plant at Doctors Piece in Willenhall, where it had been since its formation, at the end of last year.

All staff have now moved to the company's Imperial Works in Heath Road. Plant and equipment is being reinstalled there.

The five-acre site was bought when George Dyke was bought by the Dowdeswell Engineering Group in 1980.

The management team at George Dyke has been through a complete transformation since 2011 and the team is now led by general manager David McTighe.

Sales manager Gary Smith said: "We have invested in the right professionals and that is helping to drive efficiencies through and increase profitability."

In the last two years turnover has grown by 36 per cent to just under £6 million in 2012.

"We have also been continually investing in new equipment. Last year we added a CNC machining centre, a band saw and five power hammers," he explained.

The company, which is a member of the Confederation of British Metalformers and the Engineering Employers' Federation, produces components for customers in a wide range of sectors including truck and commercial vehicles, petro-chemical, construction, agriculture and mining.

Mr Smith said that exports were continuing to grow particularly in Germany and to Holland and Belgium.

"We are currently talking to an old customer in the United States about a contract that could potentially be worth £1.5m to us and would mean us taking on extra workers," he added.

"We have a few irons in the fire and we are having success in winning back old customers that we have dealt with in the past as well as in developing a new customer base," he explained.

Praise for George Dyke has come from customer Vector International. Its procurement manager Neil Jones said: "Vector International and George Dykehave been associated for 25 years. During this time, we have both seen many changes – but none so dramatic as those in recent years.

"The move to a single site and extensive capital expenditure program, coupled with a new vigour within the management team, has transformed the level of service beyond expectation."

Last year George Dyke was also involved in a project for the United States Navy.

Willenhall-based BE Wedge, part of Wedge Group Galvanizing, was called upon to provide its specialist centrifuge galvanizing treatment to 12.5 tonnes of steel scaffold fittings that have been transported to America as part of refurbishment work at one of the US Navy's naval docklands.

The fittings were created by long-standing client and forgemaster George Dyke.

Lee Dickens, sales manager of BE Wedge in Stafford Street, said: "This project was fantastic to work on and we really enjoyed partnering with George Dyke. For the US Navy to have sourced the work all the way here to the West Midlands is a testimony to the quality of work companies in the UK can provide."

George Dyke's Gary Smith said: "Having worked with BE Wedge on numerous occasions, we know that the services they provide will more than exceed our expectations every time. We use them to galvanize our steel to protect it against corrosion and weathering."

Wedge Group Galvanizing is the largest hot dip galvanizing organisation in the UK with a history dating back more than 150 years. It has 14 plants strategically placed across the country.