AN industrial collective, featuring a sub-contract machining specialist from Redditch, is casting aside the shadow of Brexit by recording its best ever year, with a £10m increase in sales and paving the way for 125 new jobs.
Of these ten will be created in Redditch by Muller Holdings which has increased turnover by £500,000 in 2017 and invested best part of £600,000 at its Washford Industrial Estate base.
Muller holdings is part of the Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), which comprises eight sub-contract manufacturers and an engineering design agency.
MAN says it has taken full advantage of the positive exchange rate for Sterling and a desire to tap into British innovation to win contracts across the automotive, aerospace, electronics, renewables and medical sectors.
All nine firms have experienced growth over the last 12 months and have benefitted from sharing best practice, purchasing power and working together to target new clusters.
“I am a firm believer in the power of collaboration and that is exactly what has helped us to grow the collective and our individual businesses over the last year,” said Rowan Crozier, CEO of Brandauer and chairman of MAN.
“We were all together when the results of the European Referendum vote were announced and we were shocked.
“That feeling lasted for about ten minutes and then, like typical manufacturers, we decided to roll-up our sleeves and see how we could make the most out of the situation. The fall in the price of Sterling has certainly been a big help.”
He continued: “This is only one element though. The UK is a great place to manufacture and we are becoming increasingly competitive thanks to a renewed focus on training, investment in automation and a willingness to innovate. Those are the true ingredients behind our success.”
MAN is made up of Muller Holdings, Alucast, Barkley Plastics, Brandauer, Grove Design, KimberMills International, Mec Com, PP Control & Automation and SMT Developments.
