Gloucestershire-based DKM Sheet Metal Co Ltd, a precision sheet metal company, is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a £600,000 investment in new machinery, taking its total spend on equipment in the last two years to over £2 million.

For the past three years, it has taken on manufacturing apprentices, and it expects to recruit more people this year, as 24/7 working kicks in after the investment in new machinery.

It has also expanded in size from just one unit on the Oldends Industrial Estate in Stonehouse to 10. DKM’s latest investment is in Amada automation that enables 24hr unmanned production, plus two new press brakes.

Steve Hearn, DKM’s managing director, said: “We have grown from a 3,000ft² unit with six staff to our current site of 30,000ft2 and 45 employees. We run 24hr shifts now, and our turnover is around £5 million.”

Mr Hearn has led DKM’s transformation since a buy-out of the company from its previous owners in 2004. He works closely with co-owner Guy Goring, whose initial investment was key to the project.

Mr Hearn said that in addition to the investment, the company’s success is down to the staff. “We are very proud of our strong engineering team. We pride ourselves on encouraging fresh new ideas and talent, as well as nurturing time-served craftsmanship.

“Right from the start, the emphasis was on re-investment. We have always aimed for the latest automation and technology. We also place a strong emphasis on apprentices.”

To go alongside that investment in plant and people, time and effort has been spent on new branding for the company
and its Web site (www.dkmsheetmetal.co.uk).