Coventry-based Foleshill Plating has invested £750,000 in a new coating line in a bid to break the £2 million sales barrier.
The plating and metal finishing company, which employs 24 people, has recently installed a new electrophoretic plant that offers greater automation, speed and a much cleaner finish for customers.
This second e-coating line is expected to help the company, whose customers include Caterpillar Perkins, reach its target turnover and put it on track for a record year.
Gurpal Thadwal, company secretary and environmental manager, said: “This sector of manufacturing has undergone some major changes over the last decade and we have had to move with the times to ensure we offer something different.
“We’ve moved away from chrome, nickel and decorative plating as it is difficult to comply with current environmental legislation. Instead we have focused on retaining and securing new work through zinc electro-plating and our e-coating arm of the business. This helped us withstand the recession and emerge with our order book intact.”
The company, established in 1978, is now aiming to increase its turnover from £1.4m to £2m over the next year, with strategic and financial support from Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS-WM) – West Midlands Auto project.
The investment in the new line brings new robotic equipment to the plant, which allows the company to handle larger and heavier parts and all processes can be done on one line, reducing lead times by two days in some cases.
MAS-WM has worked with Foleshill Plating for nearly 10 years providing manufacturing benchmarking, strategic advice and funding towards installing new machinery and systems at its Coventry site.
It has helped them to meet the latest environmental legislation and develop bespoke software that allows for automation of office functions.
Rachel Eade of MAS-WM Auto, said: “The investment in the latest line, which has been self funded, puts Foleshill in an excellent position to take advantage of a resurgent automotive sector.”
“We are continuing to work with the management team and believe there is significant potential for growth and possible job creation over the next 12 months.”
