A new micron precision tooling capability has put a Birmingham manufacturing specialist on course for its best performance in 164 years.
Brandauer, which exports 75% of the components and tools it makes to 26 different countries, made the announcement during the presentation of its King’s Award for Innovation by Derrick Anderson CBE, the Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands.
CEO Rowan Crozier MBE told the 61-strong workforce and high-profile guests that the accolade had helped them secure more than £1.2m of new orders, including its first 4-module progression tool, a first tooling design advisory contract and a first scalable e-motor lamination stack bonding tool – the latter ideal for exploiting electrification.
Together, they will help the Newtown-based business touch £9.5m in annual sales, with the increasingly realistic target of achieving £11m in 2025/26.
“For a West Midlands SME to win a Queen’s Award for international trade was special, to follow it up with a King’s Award in innovation is an unbelievable achievement from the team,” explained Rowan.
“The process is so rigorous, but an ideal opportunity to take the pulse of your business and recharge your future strategy for the next five to ten years and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
He continued: “Our micron precision tooling offer has been a real labour of love. However, we now have processes in place that de-risk the modular tooling route for customers, giving them the capability to produce their tools to the finest of margins and at a cost price (25% less than anywhere else in the world) that works.
“Days have also been taken out of production lead times and I’m delighted to say that 15 customers – from eight different sectors – have already signed up and are using tools made in this way.”
2024 has been a whirlwind period for Brandauer, with more than £4m invested in new high-speed Bruderer UK and Yamada presses, an additional, new 1-micron capable wire EDM machine, a state-of the-art laser micro-cutter and a new rapid prototyping area.
There has also been a complete re-organisation of its 50,000 sq foot production facility. This is one of the most transformational projects ever completed, with over 45 pieces of equipment moved to create a fit-for-purpose, world class manufacturing hub that will support the company’s growth for the next three to five years.
Initial data suggests a 15% efficiency gain, with certain lines running at up to 250% quicker outputs.
Rowan, who is a passionate ambassador for getting more young people into engineering, went on to add: “Whilst investment in new technology is important, so is spending more on your team and ensuring you have the right skills and the right personalities to execute the strategy.
“We’ve got so much talent at Brandauer, talent that is not readily available in industry currently. We’re trying to leverage this through our apprenticeship scheme and bringing in young and eager engineers of the future, who are keen to learn from older mentors and experienced professionals.”
He concluded: “It’s working really well, and this year has been our biggest ever intake, with six apprentices joining the business.”
The technical IP created through the micron precision tooling processes has also been captured as part of Brandauer’s involvement with In-Comm Training and the UK’s first ever Precision Toolmaking Academy.
This ground-breaking venture has enjoyed a successful first year, completing a cohort for JLR and laying the foundations for the roll-out of funded modular courses for SMEs in the supply chain.
