Busy times are ahead for casting company

Aluminium casting firm Alucast has just seen one of its busiest six months in its history, according to managing director Tony Sartorius.

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"I believe the latest recession is due to the numbers from the construction industry, which has been hit hard, rather than what we are seeing in our own business and across other suppliers and partners in manufacturing," he said.

"The last six months have been very strong for us, and we've just had one of our busiest quarters in decades. We are now looking ahead at very good sales in our new year, which started in April."

The Wednesbury company's flexibility means it makes components for a wide range of industries, including parts for a number of premium brand carmakers.

Mr Sartorius said: "We have had very high-profile work recently, like the components we have made for the Olympic torch, but we are also making highly technical parts for semi-conductors as well as components for the hydraulics for one of the biggest tractor manufacturers in the world.

"About 33 per cent of what we make goes directly for export – particularly to Eastern Europe, Korea and Holland – but a lot of it also feeds into products made here that will also go for export.

"We are currently in talks for an order for agricultural equipment for Japan that could be worth around £5 million over the next 10 years."

The growth in orders has also boosted employment at the company's Western Way works.

"We currently employ 105 people, having taken on another 10 in the last few months," said Mr Sartorius. "We are also looking at taking on a couple of apprentices in June and July. We would also like to look at taking on youngsters to train up as the next generation of casters and moulders.

"In addition we are also carrying out training across the workforce to improve skills and capitalise on the growing volume of business."

The technical expertise of the Wednesbury foundry has seen it capture work on what must be the most high-profile piece of manufacturing this year – the 8,000 torches made for this summer's London Olympics

Alucast was chosen by Coventry-based Premier Group to carry out the tooling, machining and polishing using gravity casting technology to produce the aluminium components that hold in place the inner and outer skin of the torch.

More than 15 employees were involved in the contract, ranging from design and technical staff to the quality department and experienced casters.

Designed by East Londoners Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the torch is 800mm high and features 8,000 perforated circles to represent each one of the inspirational runners on the Olympic relay planned to mark the opening of London 2012.

The Premier Group beat off international competition to secure the contract to manufacture the torch and has been responsible for setting up a supply chain to deliver the project on time, on budget and to the exacting design and quality standards expected by the London Organising Committee.

The Premier Group approached Alucast after it was recommended by a business partner and was impressed with the foundry's passion for the project, its flexibility in supplying prototypes for testing and its track record in engineering solutions.