Insider Media Limited

Telford-based Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE) said it increased sales to a record £3.6m in 2011 as a result of overseas business.

The manufacturer provides precision components, prototyping and low volume production for next-generation aircraft, F1 cars and state-of-the-art medical implants.

From its site in Hortonwood, the company has increased its staff by 30 per cent to 35 employees to deal with demand from China, Europe and the US.

"The global approach has paid dividends with overseas sales now accounting for £1m of turnover," managing director Alan Rollason said.

"After the tough times of 2009, it is excellent to be sitting here and seeing investments in new processes and technologies pay off across virtually every industry we operate in."

The company has plans to invest almost £1m in expanding the production area by buying additional factory space, as well as new state-of-the-art machinery.

Sales director Ian Wiles added: "Our record year has been supported by what can only be described as a buoyant export market, with close to 30 per cent of our turnover now going overseas.

"This includes established markets like Germany and the Benelux countries and, increasingly, new opportunities from China and the US where other rivals simply can't match the level of innovation we continually achieve."

All parts are developed and manufactured in Telford or at the company's dedicated sister business, ACE Forming, in Kingswinford.

ACE is part of the Midlands Assembly Network, a collective of ten sub-contract manufacturers who work together to share best practice and pitch for new work.

The group, which won £10m of orders in 2011, includes Alucast, Barkley Plastics, Brandauer, FW Cables, Lightning Aerospace, PP Electrical Systems, SMT Developments, Westley Engineering and Wrekin Circuits.