Pictured left to right: Patrick Ricketts (Oxford Innovation Advice), Suzie Siddall (Opus International Products) and Councillor Rob Howard, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County CouncilA new diversification strategy is paying off for a Warwickshire-based manufacturer of precision-engineered components. Opus International Products, which provides CNC machining and injection moulding services, has secured its first defence and medical contracts after completing a £1 million investment drive and tapping into the external backing of the
Warwickshire Manufacturing Growth Programme (WMGP).
The installation of seven new Yizumi machines at its 40,000ft
2 facility in Leamington Spa has given it the production capacity to move into new markets and the firm is now supplying parts to several new sectors. It is part of a five-year growth strategy that the management team hopes will see it accelerate annual revenues from its current £7.4 million level to £9 million, with aerospace being another industry in its sights.
Strong foundations in placeSuzie Siddall, who took over as managing director in 2024 when Opus’ founder and previous managing director Rob Coles tragically passed away from a long-term illness, said: “There are really strong foundations in place now to grow the company and we’re starting to convert some of the opportunities that have been in the pipeline. We were 99% reliant on the automotive industry, supplying premium brands like Aston Martin, JLR and Lotus with interior and exterior trim products, powertrain and suspension components.”
She continued: “This market is extremely tough, so we made the concerted decision to diversify, gaining expert support from the Warwickshire Manufacturing Growth Programme (WMGP) to identify our strengths and additional sectors where our manufacturing expertise could add real value. This was such a valuable exercise and helped us map out a new strategic marketing approach for targeting complex medical components and defence, followed by the possibility of supplying into aerospace. With two new contracts already secured and more due to confirm, I feel this new approach could deliver £500,000 of business in the next 12 months alone.”
Opus International Products, which employs 31 people, provides engineering development, precision machining, injection moulding and industrial solutions. It supports customers from concept and prototyping through to low-, medium- and high-volume production, delivering components to the world class IATF16949, ISO9001 and ISO14001 quality standards covering automotive and environmental performance. The firm’s growth plans have been supported by the Warwickshire Manufacturing Growth Programme’s (WMGP) mix of tailored support, expert guidance and one-to-one coaching.
Funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered by Oxford Innvoation Advice on behalf of Warwickshire County Council, the business support initiative has also supported the management team to boost their leadership skills.
New opportunitiesSuzie Siddall continued: “As with anything, you get out what you put in, and by giving a small amount of time and effort we have received a high level of support and advice which has been invaluable. Through WMGP, we were introduced to marketing expert Steve Jollife. His knowledge of the markets we were trying to target and how to build our ‘story’ to target them has directly led to new opportunities and work. We have been so impressed, we have engaged with him to keep him on a long-term basis.”
Councillor Rob Howard, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The WMGP provides a range of bespoke support to small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses, helping them to understand the market, develop strategies for growth and access grant funding.
“It is great to see the valuable impact it has had on our local businesses, with Opus International Products being a prime example. It has received support to understand areas for growth and develop its strategies to achieve this, evident with its first new contracts in the defence and medical sectors.”
Opus International Products’ recent investment drive has seen the installation of seven Yizumi injection moulding machines, offering the opportunity to clamp at 30 tonnes (small, lightweight parts) and 1200 tonnes – the latter used for very large components, high-cavity moulds or thin-walled applications. They complement a comprehensive seven-strong CNC machining cell and extensive design for manufacturing capabilities.
Councillor Ella Billiald, Warwick District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Arts, Culture and Economy, concluded: “From the District Council’s perspective, it is extremely rewarding to see a local business evolving thanks to its participation in the Business Growth Programme, particularly in an uncertain economic environment.
“We would strongly encourage other companies wanting to explore new markets or opportunities to follow Opus’ lead and visit the Warwickshire MGP website to find out about the specialist support available to them.”