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Alloy Heat Treatment
A Dudley company that specialises in heat treatment of aluminium alloys has invested in new machinery as its seek to take its business to new heights and win more work in the aerospace sector.
Alloy Heat Treatment, buoyed by its new equipment and renewed confidence, will be exhibiting at the Farnborough International Airshow which runs from July 14 to 18.
It will be on the Midlands Aerospace Alliance stand in the UK Pavilion at the major industry event.
The company on Grazebrook Industrial Park, off Peartree Lane, has installed a drop bottom solution treating oven designed for intensive use up to 550C.
It will be used to apply heat treatment to semi-finished aero parts to increase their strength, endurance and life span.
The investment of more than £250,000 has also involved adding a new line as well as installing the second oven on an existing line.
It has been driven firstly, to ensure that the company boasts the latest equipment and technology to provide continued and required excellent service the aerospace industry and secondly following a general return to confidence across the board in manufacturing.
Quality manager Steve Roberts said: “Industry has emerged from a very tough period but we have survived by staying true to our ethos throughout. This is the pride we take in the relationships with our customers and our dedication to providing the very best service for them, coupled with investing in our people through the development of staff at all levels.
“This ethos has helped AHT to safeguard jobs and the investment will further reduce lead times for our customers and bring growth to our company.”
Staff have been trained in-house to use the new oven and it will be operational this month.
Some of the 50-strong staff employed on the commercial side, where there was spare capacity, have moved over to the aerospace side rather then there being fresh recruitment. The new installation also means that AHT will move from one shift, to two as it continues to grow.
Mr Roberts said the company, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year,was excited to be attending the airshow.
“Business doesn’t always come to you and we are broadening our horizons. We have the capability to improve our service to our customers and work with new ones,” he added.
Alloy Heat Treatment has been at the Grazebrook Industrial Park for more than a quarter of a century.
The company can process components up to five metres long and three tonnes in weight. In recent years it has been winning increasing levels of export orders from customers in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and South Korea.
The company has National Aerospace and Defence Contractors Accreditation Programme merit status to work in aerospace, defence and related industries. It also has preferred supplier status to several aerospace primes including Rolls Royce, BAe and Airbus.
It has had a NADCAP accreditation since 2004 and has on site specialists who can give advice on materials, treatments and surface engineering.
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