The growing success of a Bridgnorth castings company is further proof that the UK’s manufacturing industry is on the road to recovery.

JT Castings was started up only four years ago with a workforce of three and just one customer.

Today it has grown to employ 15 people and its list of customers is now 15 strong.

Managing director Frank Young said: “During the last six months we have added a new customer nearly every month – a trend that looks set to continue.”

The key to JT Castings’ successful growth has been the stripped-down nature of its operations.

Set up with the idea of producing low-cost diecastings with very few overheads, the company can now offer zinc castings of up to five kilos and aluminium castings of up to 14 kilos at its 20,000 sq ft factory on the Alveley Industrial Estate.

Mr Young said: “The premises are owned and all machinery is paid for. There are no office staff and the management are usually to be found on the shop floor, where the real work is done.

“Due to this, we have been able to offer our customers substantial cost savings. We also work closely with a number of clients on research and development to gain further savings.

“Last year the research and development budget was 10 per cent of sales, a figure that will be repeated this year.”

The impressive performance of JT Castings has even come to the attention of the national media and saw the company featuring on the BBC’s early evening news.

It showed how the company had been rebuilt from the ground up since the dark days of 2009, in the depths of the recession, to a lean and efficient new business utilising a range of procedures that enable JT Castings to pass on cost savings to its customers.

Those savings are combined with a speed of operation that is adding to the company’s growing reputation.

Mr Young said JT Castings had recently been approached by a customer about a project for six separate castings for a mounting for a TV monitor - but the project had to be in production in just eight weeks.

“Because we have our own toolroom this was achieved within the time frame and the parts are now being made weekly with another new project in the pipeline,” said Mr Young.

The company also has an extensive secondary operations shop with CNC machines but was recently asked to assemble a full range of products in a ‘clean’ dust and particle free environment.

The adaptable team set up the area, creating another cost saving for that customer and providing JT Casting with a further service it can offer in future.

To find out more about the benefits of working with JT Castings, telephone 01746 780179 or 07912 293314, email: gy@jtcastings.co.uk or visit the website: www.jtcastings.co.uk

Image: Frank Young being interviewed by BBC News at JT?Castings in Bridgnorth.

Original news source: http://www.expressandstar.com/business/2013/08/13/cost-control-is-key-to-bridgnorth-company-growth/