New lease of life for Wolverhampton steel coating company
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A Wolverhampton non-stick coating specialist is set to grow after a change of ownership.more
Cooper Coated Coil has been bought by ARC Specialist Engineering after parent group Metalrax went into administration on April 2.
The change will enable Cooper Coated Coil, based at Planetary Industrial Estate, to expand its business and build up export sales. All 57 existing staff posts have been retained.
The company, founded in 1966 in West Bromwich as Custom Coil Coaters, is looking forward to a bright future with ARC.
Cooper Coated Coil's new parent group is backed by specialist private shareholders and they have committed funds to enable the business to grow, expanding into new premises and taking on new staff.
The acquisition took place with minimal disruption to the business and the company is trading as normal.
"This is a very exciting time for us. With a new group of enthusiastic shareholders, we're putting solid plans in place for the future," said managing director Kevin Tranter.
He said they were taking on the lease of a third unit on the industrial estate, where it has been since 2001 to create office, production and storage space.
"We'll be taking on new staff. Plus, we're planning on expanding the business into new territories," added Mr Tranter.
"Our current customers can be assured that we're trading as normal. We're fulfilling and supplying all outstanding orders, and we're ready, willing and able to take on new ones.
"It's more than 'business as usual' for us – it's a new phase of growth with new partners," he explained.
The business supplies pre-coated metals to the bakeware, domestic appliance and homeware markets. It also supplies a range of industrial manufacturing customers.
Its non-stick technology is present in everyday items from bakeware to the sole plates on domestic steam irons.
Last year it launched its new Glide-X material that can stand up to 180 roasting and dishwasher cycles.
Mr Tranter said that the new unit would see a satellite operation in West Bromwich moved to the main site and a new commercial head office would operate from the unit as well.
He said the number of new staff that would be needed had yet to be confirmed but the company was currently in the process of recruiting apprentices.
Cooper currently exports 60 per cent of its output and Mr Tranter said that they were now looking to further drive exports.
"We are dominant in the non-stick sector in the European Union and the Far East and the United States are our current targets for growth. Big names like Hitachi in Japan are among our customers," he added.
Mr Tranter said Cooper eventually hoped to be able to resume manufacturing in the US
