Petford moulding completes move
Tool making group Petford this week completed the move of its moulding division to its new £1.5 million site in Lye
Injection moulding machines from its former site in Brierley Hill were transferred last week to the site in Mears Coppice.
The office has switched to the new premises, but production has yet to begin,
Group managing director Mel Sinar personally project managed the work to convert the former Controlled Heat Treatments works and create a 38,000 sq ft home for the division.
The project took six months to complete after Mr Sinar was initially told the work would take 18 months.
Petford, which has its headquarters at Lygon Buildings, Peartree Lane, Dudley, has already taken on 13 with the move from Station Drive, Brierley Hill, to Lye and that will rise to 19 by 2020.
Mr Sinar said that business had grown more quickly than anticipated in the four years since the moulding division was moved out to Brierley Hill and a bigger site had been needed.
The purchase of the four-acre Lye site was agreed on December 22.
The extra space will enable the division to continue to grow,supporting its existing customers and further grow order books.
The fresh investment follows £8m that was invested last year to support growth.
The group employs 130 between its head office and Lye.
Petford, which was formed in 1970, continues to carry out automotive tool manufacturing at Dudley
In 2014 the specialist toolmakers invested £2.8m in setting up its new Petford Moulding operation in Brierley Hill. All the robotised machines were transferred there from Peartree Lane as its moulding operation had outgrown the Dudley site.
Petford had originally begun plastic injection moulding in 2006 at Peartree Lane.
The company was a finalist in the Express & Star's 2017 Business Awards in the manufacturing champion category.
Petford is a first and second tier supplier to UK and global original equipment manufacturers predominantly within the premium automotive and aerospace industries.
After the 2008-2009 recession, Mr Sinar developed strategically, ambitious growth plans, linked to the resurgence of the UK automotive sector.
Investment in its sites, machinery and people has been key to Petford’s growth.
Investment in the moulding division also saw an eighth injection moulding machine bought in August last year.
