Investment
Foundry casts its net for new opportunities
Alucast Ltd, which has increased its workforce by 20% to more than 120 people at its base in Wednesbury, has commissioned six CNCs, a HDTD low pressure machine and boosted its ‘new core’ capabilities. Headlining the recent funding boost is an 800-tonne LK high pressure die casting machine that can produce high integrity parts from a fully automated cell, reducing component handling and making the company more competitive overseas. It has proved a wise decision, with the Black Country business already securing a new export contract worth £1.2m. John Swift, CEO of Alucast, commented: “We have always taken a long-term strategic view on how we move forward and this, firstly, has helped us negotiate some tough economic challenges A £2m investment drive is helping one of the UK’s leading aluminium foundries pass the £10m sales mark as it looks to make the most of new opportunities.
and, secondly, is now helping us take advantage of opportunities in automotive, electrification and hydraulic components. “This is our largest investment drive in nearly a decade and reflects an increase in demand for our high/low pressure, gravity and sand casting expertise, not to mention our expansive machining capabilities.” He continued: “The latter is proving extremely important as we are offering added value services for a host of blue-chip tier 1s and the vehicle manufacturers directly. We’re offering them the security of supply they are crying out for.” Alucast is a founding member of the Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), an eight-strong collective of sub-contractors and an engineering design agency. The unique group has responded to the Government’s faltering strategic vision for industry by delivering their own blueprint for making the country globally competitive. Bosses launched the MANifesto earlier this
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