West Midlands-based KimberMills International, a manufacturer of high-quality forgings and machined parts, is celebrating its 100th year in business (
www.kimbermills.co.uk).
The company employs 50 people at two sites — in the Black Country and Coventry — and has enjoyed a £1 million boost in its centenary year by securing new contracts in the oil and gas, mining, motor-sport and rail sectors.
This new business has taken sales to a record high of £8 million, resulted in the creation of six new jobs and endorsed the company’s decision to invest nearly £1 million in a new drop forge at its Cradley Heath facility, as well as additional machining capabilities and a new MRP (materials requirements planning) system.
It is a far cry from when the firm was first started in 1919 by blacksmith Albert Mills, who turned a hobby into a fully fledged business, supplying parts for horse-drawn carriages from his garage on Charterhouse Road in Coventry.
Chairman Larry Joyce, who bought the company with John Simmons in 1993, said: “From what was a very local start, we have evolved into a global manufacturer of high-quality forgings and finished machined parts, servicing clients across four continents.
“Despite our international reach, we have stayed true to our roots of being customer-focused and taking on complex projects that some of our rivals will simply not touch.
“This is how we believe Albert grew the business in the early days, and we saw no reason to change. We have, however, looked to diversify our offering, and a constant commitment to investment and innovation has seen us become a trusted supplier of pipe clamps to petrochemical, engine parts for motor-sport, cutting tools to help build the Channel Tunnel and even components for NASA.
“It hasn’t been easy and we have had to withstand a number of domestic and global recessions, the volatility of the automotive sector and changes in the manufacturing process.
“We’re looking forward to celebrating the 100 years with our staff, but this is just the start — here’s to the next century!”