£1m investment safeguards 27 jobs
The Birmingham company behind the first ever communication cable wire across the Atlantic Ocean is investing £1m in wire production technology. Webster & Horsfall has safeguarded 19 jobs and created a further eight with the funding and support from Advantage West Midlands (AWM).
The Hay Mills company, which created the transatlantic wire in 1865, is investing an initial £1m in new production line plant and equipment. The funding will assist with the manufacturing of high-strength "drawn wire", which is used in a vast range of products.
The investment was supported by AWM, and forms part of a site development project by the company worth £3.4m.
Robert Horsfall, finance director, said: “The support from Advantage West Midlands has been fantastic and has allowed us to invest in our growth at a critical time. We are creating eight jobs and safeguarding another 19 jobs, while levering in £775,000 of private sector investment.
“The project is a real boost, enabling us to reduce costs and improve efficiency by modernising machinery and infrastructure and improve our site. It will also ensure we reduce our carbon footprint.”
The new plant and machinery includes state of the art wire drawing machinery, a new electric furnace, specialist testing equipment and a highly efficient thermal fluid heating system. The new footprint will be overclad, fully insulated and updated with efficient utility services.
Steve Hines, at AWM, said: “Innovation is one of the main challenges facing the West Midlands and encouraging companies of all sizes to develop new products and ideas is a key priority."
