Warwickshire Engineering Business Set To Smash Through £2m Sales Barrier

A Warwickshire engineering business is confident of breaking through the £2 million sales barrier this year after winning new contracts and recruiting more staff.

Managing Director Robert Jones led the management buy-out of CeraCon UK which was re-named Robafoam this month.

The Leamington company which specialises in foam seal equipment manufacturing and sub-contract sealing parts in a wide range of industries has been given support and help from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub.

A third shift has been introduced at the business which is located on the Sydenham Industrial Estate in Berrington Road after contracts were secured with DOORCO and IG Doors to seal the doors of new build houses across the UK.

Robert said it has been a whirlwind 2021 following the completion of the management buy-out and re-naming the business which had led to a new website, uniforms and signage.

He said: “It has been an exciting few months with moving to a third shift during the night since the business is continuing to do very well.

“For the first time, we will break the £2 million sales barrier this year because one of the big areas for us has been sealing of door cassettes frames on composite doors for new houses.

“We have won two huge contracts in the construction industry which has been a big boost for us since the automotive sector has dropped off dramatically.

“The diversity of creating a water-tight seal which can be used for doors has been vital and our largest customer DOORCO, has also placed £500,000 of orders for two machines as well as processing their parts.

“We have taken on two new members of staff because of the increase in production and we are recruiting an apprentice in July to be a robot programme sealant specialist through the Government’s Kickstart scheme after Jim Clark at the Growth Hub told me about it.

“Jim has become my mentor throughout the last 15 months and his help has been invaluable because he is always there when I need his advice.

“The next step is to continue networking and in September, we’re going to the FIT Show at the NEC to showcase our products to the window, door, glazing and conservatory industry to highlight what we can offer.

“I’m confident we will grow 28-30 per cent this year despite the pandemic.”

Jim Clark, account manager at the CWLEP Growth Hub, said the diversification at Robafoam underpinned its success this year.

He said: “Covid-19 has led to many businesses diversifying into markets they may otherwise not previously have thought of and Robafoam’s technology means they can adapt to providing water-tight products for a vast range of sectors.

“As Robert has said to me, they work hard at being lucky and their time in researching new markets as well as making the most of opportunities which have come their way are being rewarded in their financial figures.

“Robert and his team have created a business which is strong and sustainable and will allow them to invest in their future.”

Caption: From the left, David Hodkinson (Lloyds Bank), Oliver Hughes (Hughes Legal), Robert Jones (Robafoam), Jim Clark (CWLEP Growth Hub) and Steven Mugglestone (Michael Harwood & Co)

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