Member Article

AWI makes £1m investment in material to meet industry demand

One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of round, flat and profile wire has completed a £1m investment in material to ensure it continues to meet the growing requirements of its global client base.

Alloy Wire International (AWI) continued manufacturing wire from High Performance nickel alloys throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, maintaining supply to sectors including medical, power generation and commercial transport.

The company, which offers a 60-strong range of Exotic alloys, has ensured it always has over 200 tonnes of European and DFARS compliant material at any one time, so that it can manufacture and deliver within three weeks of clients placing their orders.

This is just one element of an ongoing investment drive that has also seen the redevelopment of its offices in Brierley Hill and the introduction of the latest wet drawing machine for producing wire from 1.6mm to 0.7mm diameter, plus a take-up spooler that can handle and store larger weight rolled wire profiles.

Mark Venables, Managing Director of Alloy Wire International, commented: “We’re still averaging 160 enquiries every week, so there doesn’t appear to be a let up in demand like some parts of industry are seeing.

“With this in mind, we have remained true to our commitment to always have 200 tonnes of material in stock at any one time, meaning we can complete orders in just 3 weeks – and when an emergency arises we look to our Emergency Manufacturing Service that can see wire supplied in just three days!”

He continued: “We appreciate it’s a big investment at this current time, but we know it’s the right decision as our customers span over 55 different countries and when one territory is a little bit down you usually find another is increasing orders.”

“All of the material is sourced from approved suppliers to ensure melt quality, which can be important to the successful performance of the client’s end products and this could be aircraft parts, oil rig components or medical equipment.”

Alloy Wire International is approaching 75 years of manufacturing wire in the UK and currently supplies in excess of 5000 customers involved in automotive, aerospace, defence, medical, nuclear, oil and gas and renewables.

Material, including Phynox, Inconel and Hastelloy, is available from 0.025mm (.001“) to 21mm (.827“) in small batches or medium/large volume – all within a three-week timeframe.

Its global reach also continues to gather pace, with the appointment of Andrew Marshall of AM Wire Pte Ltd to look after Singapore and nearby territories.

He has been supporting spring makers and other wire consumers in the region for many years and will offer immediate access to a number of key industries.

Angus Hogarth, Sales Director of AWI, concluded: “The pandemic has thrown up some massive challenges, but we’ve tried to stay true to our core philosophies and our staff have really delivered – first in supplying the NHS and, in more recent weeks, keeping up with demand from other sectors.

“Investment will continue in material and equipment, with our next purchase planned to be new cutting and straightening machines that will deliver an increased range of products for our customers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .