Expanding subcontractor invests and joins successful supplier group to boost business further

As part of the expansion, the firm has invested nearly £1 million on a state-of-the-art Trumpf laser cutting machine, a solvent-free powder coating plant and created 20 new jobs, taking its total workforce to 130. The Hixon, Staffordshire-based company has also become the latest member of the Midlands Assembly Network (MAN), a collective of nine subcontractors offering capabilities in mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering. Richard Bunce, managing director, commented: "We've enjoyed year-on-year growth since the management buy-out in 2005 and this has been achieved by continuing to look at ways where we can 'add value' to the customer. "This may be through delivering outstanding quality, cost and delivery; it may be about taking on the assembly of a product as an additional service, or even offering a solution to a long-term manufacturing problem. "We are continually investing in automation and in training our workforce on the best lean processes…it's an effective combination that delivers greater than 99.75% right first time components and 95.5% on time deliveries." Mec Com currently supplies components into the power generation, food processing, rail, medical and renewable energy sectors for clients including Alstom, DEK, Schneider Electric and Siemens. The company manufactures bespoke enclosures used on the West Coast Mainline and in the newest hospitals, whilst other components end up in solar equipment and food processing machines. Its facility on Hixon Airfield Industrial Estate caters for low volume work with European Fabrications – its Romanian subsidiary – providing a competitive cost base for higher volume production. "We are expecting to add another £1 million of sales to turnover this year, with the pipeline full of enquiries, both at home and overseas," continued Mr Bunce. "Joining the Midlands Assembly Network is an important step in our ambitious growth plans. The group is a great champion of UK manufacturing and provides us with the perfect opportunity to access new markets which we are not currently involved in. "We will bring specialist fabrication and light assembly capabilities to the mix and we are already working with PP Electrical Systems and a number of other member businesses." Tony Hague, Chairman of MAN, picked up the story: "Mec Com is a great addition to the group and fits into our philosophy of retaining and attracting manufacturing work back into the UK. "A commitment to world class performance, quality and 'added value' fits perfectly with the way we operate and I can already see a number of new opportunities that member companies can work on." The Midlands Assembly Network is made up of nine companies including Mec Com, Advanced Chemical Etching, Alucast, Barkley Plastics, Brandauer, FW Cables, PP Electrical Systems, SMT Developments and Westley Engineering. Together they employ over 600 people and turnover in excess of £60 million, providing access to world class manufacturing in precision pressings, casting, etching, injection moulding, wiring looms, toolmaking, PCB assembly and electrical control systems and assemblies.