At the recent AGM of Brownhills-based Castings plc (www.castings.plc.uk), company chairman Brian Cooke said: “We have seen a softening in demand from our main customers since June. Our plan to fill the profit gap created by the ending of a major machining contract remains on course, with improvements still expected from 2017-18.

"We continue to invest in production techniques and technologies to ensure we remain as market leaders and maintain our competitiveness in a post-Brexit market-place. The EU referendum result has given rise to uncertainty, and it will take time to gauge the effect this may have on the company.”