Wind powers growth for engineering firm Mec Com
The growth in offshore wind power is blowing business in the direction of a Staffordshire precision sheet metal firm, which has won £8 million of new contracts for two of the world's largest manufacturing names.
Mec Com, which employs 120 people at its Hixon base, has beat off international competition to deliver assembly and testing for Siemens and a large manufacturing package for Stafford-based Alstom Grid.
And, helped by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), the company has used the new business to drive a £1 million investment in a second facility, new CNC machining and welding capabilities.
Managing director Richard Bunce, said: "Over the last six months we have enjoyed a rise in demand for new products, including machining and fabrication work for the offshore wind sector and orders from customers in power generation and food processing.
"As part of the growth, we've taken on 10 new people in customer support, purchasing, assembly and in engineering."
MAS has been assisting Mec Com for some time, working with the management team to fine tune its business development strategy so that it can appeal to OEMs looking to outsource non-core manufacturing activities.
It has also helped with supply chain issues and introducing continuous improvement experts, who have advised on leadership structures and decision-making processes.
The organisation is currently delivering GROW:OffshoreWind , a £20m service to support English manufacturers looking to break into or win more contracts in the offshore wind sector.
Richard added: "The external help is very welcome and we are currently looking at making the most of GROW:OffshoreWind as we anticipate significant growth in this sector.
"If things go well, we expect to turnover £16m by 2017 and increase the workforce to 150."
Mec Com is part of the Midlands Assembly Network (MAN), a ten-strong group of world class manufacturers who work together to win work at home and abroad.
The collective, which employs over 650 people and records combined sales in excess of £65m, provides access to precision pressings, castings, design, etching, injection moulding, wiring looms, toolmaking, PCB assembly and electrical control systems.
Member firms include Advanced Chemical Etching, Aluast, Barkley Plastics, Brandauer, FW Cables, Grove Design, PP Electrical Systems, Westley Engineering and SMT Developments.
