A LYE toolmaking company will mark its 45th year in business by doubling in size after clinching investment worth £500,000.

HCM Engineering Ltd is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and designers of tooling for aluminium die-casting foundries and builds tools for aluminium, zinc and moulding companies.

The companies products are sold to the automotive, rail, military, agriculture and green industries.

HCM is owned and managed by brothers Simon and Michael Hanson – and currently has a workforce of 24 staff, including six apprentices.

Managing director Simon Hanson said: “Over the last 45 years the company has had to evolve and thrive and the upturn in the automotive industry has been very welcome as its helped us to futureproof the next chapter in the company’s history.

“What has stood us in good stead and enabled us to outlast many of our competitors is the ‘can do’ approach which I think embodies the company and the wider Black Country manufacturing base."

The brothers are targeting a doubling of turnover over the next five years as a result of major investments, including installation of two new state-of-the-art CNC machines, leading edge measuring facilities and a new IT system.

The growth strategy was supported by the Manufacturing Advisory Service who helped the company plan for the next five years and to access MAS and Regional Growth Fund funding.

He added: “Coming from the Black Country, I honestly feel it is in our DNA to make things and I feel a huge sense of pride in our ability to not only make things but make them well.

“The Manufacturing Advisory Service has been brilliant in challenging us to grow and then helping us to identifying sources of funding alongside the capital we have invested ourselves and, most importantly, help us to access this support."

Rachel Eade, automotive supply chain lead at MAS, said: “HCM has made a clear investment in its own future, not just through the investment in the new machinery and processes, but also in its people.

“Its bespoke apprenticeship programme should be an inspiration to others and shows how investing in people can make such a difference.

“We were delighted to be able to help, particularly by guiding the company through its strategy development and the process of bidding for Regional Growth Fund money which has had such a huge impact on the scale and speed of expansion.”

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