Smethwick foundry business seek staff in £2.5m investment

A Smethwick foundry business is recruiting 65 new staff as a £2.5 million investment in its future takes shape. The first stage of Incanite Foundries' growth is a new aluminium foundry which is set to come on stream in the next two months.

The 85-year-old company has already invested £850,000 in equipment and preparing the 30,000sq ft new facility.

Manufacturing director Elliot Eaton said that they were taking on 45 new staff for the aluminium operation on top of the 100 currently employed at the firm's site in Cornwall Road.

"We have also just secured a contract to make 11,000 posts for an airport in Dubai. This has to be completed by the end of January so we are taking on another 20 just for that contract," he added.

Incanite, which was formerly part of the Wellman Group, is set to increase its turnover from £3.5m in 201-2012 to between £8m and £9m in the current financial year.

Mr Eaton said that a lot of the growth would be from the addition of the aluminium operation.

He said that it formed the first of three phases of development with the second being updating and improving the existing iron foundry on site.

"This project will take about 18 months to complete," added Mr Eaton.

The final project will involve making improvements to the frontage of the building which involves securing land from a neighbouring business and securing planning permission from Sandwell Council for a new office block and technical centre. The existing building will also be re-skinned.

"The overall investment will amount to more than £2.5m. It is a major project for the company," he explained.

Mr Eaton said that Incanite was also looking to take on a number of people in engineering positions including a project engineer for the Dubai contract.

The company is already advertising for foundry posts including die casters, sand moulders/coremakers, fettlers, bandsaw operatives and labourers.

"Anyone interested in finding out about the positions can contact our administrative assistant Lisa Moore on 0121 565 2882," added Mr Eaton.

Incanite has built up a strong reputation for producing precision engineered castings for industry of the highest quality.

It has attracted orders from a variety of sectors including the oil and gas industry, aerospace, marine, agriculture and military.

Incanite also has the ability to produce one off prototypes for its clients and has its own pattern shop.

Iron is melted in three six-tonne coreless electric induction furnaces.

All the castings made at Incanite, which can be up to six tonnes, are carefully checked by experience staff.

The company has also got x-ray and ultrasonic testing equipment if that is required.

Mr Eaton said that the premises had needed refurbishment for some time and the the company was delighted with the support it had got from the borough council for its plans to transform the site which covers several acres.