Warwickshire manufacturer invests over £500,000 in a state-of-the-art machine
A Warwickshire manufacturer has invested over £500,000 in a state-of-the-art machine and added four employees to its workforce.
Smartcom Solutions, which was set-up in 2001, has been based in Bourne End, Southam, for around 20 years and specialises in CNC sheet metal work for the telecoms, electrical enclosure and automotive industry.
The business has been steadily growing but relied on a seven-year-old laser cutting machine to carry out the majority of its work.
Owner Matthew Commander contacted Jim Clark, Account Manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, to find out if there were any grants available towards a £567,000 AMADA fibre laser cutting machine which they wanted to buy.
Jim put Matthew in touch with Denise Osborne, Business Development Advisor at the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme which is part funded through the European Regional Development Fund and is being delivered by Coventry City Council and he was successful in his bid for £50,000 towards the machine.
Matthew said the new machine was up to four times faster than its other laser cutting machine which they are still able to use as well.
He said: “We have been growing over the years and laser cutting machines have moved on tremendously since we bought our last machine seven years ago.
“Over the last 18 months, there has been a rapid increase in the costs of materials which we can’t pass on to our customers immediately and we have recruited staff to expand our office administration and marketing.
“The benefits of the investment in this expensive piece of equipment are to increase our productivity to consolidate the work we have and grow the business further as well as take on new members of staff.
“We have finished our training on the new laser machine and as well as completing work much more quickly, there are auto sheet loading facilities which enables it to run overnight which was not possible before even though we have been running a late shift.
“Our customers are mainly in the Midlands but we are hoping investing in this new machine will lead to new orders.”
Jim Clark, Account Manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, said Smartcom Solutions would now be much more competitive.
He said: “Smartcom Solutions was losing out on laser work as their old machine was cutting about four times slower than the latest machinery but as well as increasing its productivity, it will help to reduce energy costs and improve their green credentials.
“As well as adding four new jobs, it is safeguarding roles within the current workforce as more work is created and will enable the business to tender for more contracts.”
Denise Osborne, Business Development Advisor at Coventry City Council, said: “With additional help through the grant funding, Smartcom Solutions has been able to invest in the new laser cutting machine to provide them with the capacity to scale up their business.
“This new machine will really transform their business, improving processes with higher productivity, enabling them to take on more work and increase turnover. All this will contribute to increased profitability, job creation and job security and it is great that we have been able to support a local business with this grant.”
