Birmingham-based Precision Micro (www.precisionmicro.com) — a chemical etching specialist for over 50 years — is experiencing a large increase in demand for its services, allowing it to make further investment in research and development, plant and infrastructure.

Managing director Ian McMurray said: “Design engineers are constantly on the look-out for technologies that can fulfil their requirements for smaller, lighter or more-precise precision parts.

"Chemical etching is one such technology; our research into new applications and the use of new metals has moved it from a niche technology into the mainstream for numerous OEMs in high-tech engineering sectors.”

Precision Micro can etch a wide range of metals, including those often deemed too difficult or too costly to process. A major investment in its titanium etching capability in 2014 has opened up previously untapped market potential for the company, which is reflected in its impressive growth figures.

2016-2017 saw a 25% increase in sales to £15 million, and the company is on course to reach its £20 million turnover target by 2019, one year ahead of schedule.

The company says its growth over the past five years has not been achieved by constantly expanding its customer base, but by building strong partnerships with its existing customers, who are using chemical etching to gain competitive advantage and in turn achieve growth.

Mr McMurray added: “Precision Micro positions itself precisely to cater for the demand from its customers.

“We recognise the drive for precise, complex and safety-critical components with more and more exacting tolerances and from increasingly difficult to machine metals, and so we invest heavily in being able to fulfil these requirements.

"It’s a two-way street; we push the boundaries of the technology, which allows it to be used for a wider array of applications, and we benefit from the opportunities that we have helped to open up.”