"We have always believed in forging long-term relationships with our customers. Many of the parts we make have to be replaced as new product models are introduced."
"But now we are able to expand through value by offering a complete supply and project management service. That's where we see our core business – growing with our customers, making full use of technical skills."
Mr. Heath said: "Like many firms in our sector we have had an uncertain year with sales fluctuating rapidly from month to month. With this in mind, we were keen to look at ways where we could increase our sales through introducing new services and processes and the Automotive Response funding has given us a major boost in achieving this. We have already increased turnover to £2 million, created new jobs and feel confident of continuing this growth into 2010 and beyond."
Zincast was established in the 1930's and is one of the few remaining West Midlands foundries specialising in the aluminium and zinc alloy pressure and gravity die-casting. It supplies into the automotive, white goods and construction markets.
Experts from the Manufacturing Advisory Service and automotive specialists Accelerate worked with Zincast on production-line efficiency and quality testing.
"Now we have won a £800,000 contract with Makita, the Japanese tool manufacturer based in Telford," says Heath.
"It's responsible for us creating six more skilled jobs. The support was there at the right time to enable us to adapt our skills."
