Black Country-based Alucast, a manufacturer of high-quality aluminium castings, has completed a £2.25 million investment drive by opening a new 7,000ft² machine shop to support the growing demand for lightweight complex components.

The foundry can now call upon 20 CNC machines at any one time, including five five-axis machines.

The latest equipment, supplied by the Engineering Technology Group (www.engtechgroup.com), has given Alucast the speed and precision necessary to meet the just-in-time delivery requirements of existing and future customers.

The investment will also deliver a 30% increase in capacity to take on new projects, plus the ability to reduce lead times and achieve even greater repeatable quality.

Supported by Sand-well Metropolitan Borough Council, Black Country LEP and the Black Country Growth Deal, the machine shop was officially opened by Aston Martin Lagonda director Lord Carrington plus Lord Whitby from Made in the Midlands in the presence of staff, suppliers, partners and customers.

Tony Sartorius, chairman of Alucast (www.alucast.co.uk), said: “While there are a lot of challenges to overcome in the automotive sector, there are still many opportunities for suppliers who can build strategic partnerships with their customers, helping them to design, develop and manufacture the lightweight parts for the future.

"This is what we have been able to do with Aston Martin and a number of other luxury automotive producers, and in order to meet increases in volumes, we have completed our own sizeable investment in creating a world-class machine shop.

“What it gives us is complete control of the machining process, so that we can cast the part and machine it to the highest possible standard.

“Twenty-four people will be employed in this area initially, including an apprentice, with more jobs set to follow.”