Engineering news
Automotive supplier Cobra UK is on the lookout for 50 new process engineers and shop floor staff after securing contracts worth more than £20m for its low-mass load floor.
The company tapped into support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands (MAS-WM) to develop the new product which helps reduce vehicle weight, leading to greater fuel performance and reduced emissions.
Gary Searle, managing director of Cobra UK said: “MAS-WM’s New Product Development team has been a major help, providing financial and strategic advice throughout the entire process.
“It has taken nearly three years to develop and bring to market, but we are now in a position where we have a product that offers significant cost and performance benefits that many global customers are crying out for.”
General Motors and hybrid car maker Fiskar are the first vehicle manufacturers to place orders with Cobra UK, with more contracts expected to follow when production is ramped up in September.
It marks a major period of expansion for the company which has grown from sales of £300,000 a year after the MG Rover closure, to an estimated £17.4m for the next financial year.
Cobra UK, which currently employs 72 workers at bases in Whitchurch and a new facility in Welshpool, also produces electric sun blinds, interior lighting, tread plates and load space covers.
Using ‘car industry’ knowledge and innovation the company recently diversified into manufacturing stadium seating for Birmingham City, Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Cobra UK is currently in the advanced stages of testing new airline seats which also use low-mass technology. Following comprehensive testing the company believes this technology could save up to £850,000 in fuel costs, on a low-cost carrier aircraft, and nearly 1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions.
The New Product Development programme, which has assisted 50 other companies in the region, gives manufacturers access to key areas of support including structured process and methodology to mitigate technical and commercial risk, one-to-one mentoring and funding towards prototyping, market research and securing patents.
Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), MAS-WM has assisted more than 6000 firms in total, adding £250m to UK industry's economic performance.