A Black Country wire specialist that exports to more than 65 countries across the world has been named as the region’s Manufacturing Champion.
Alloy Wire International (AWI), which is owned by all its 34 employees, beat off the competition of fantastic businesses Addfield Environmental Systems and Voestalpine Metsec plc at last week’s Express & Star Business Awards.
The company’s rapid growth and the ambitions of the young management team was praised by the high-profile judging panel of Alison Jukes (Express & Star), Michael Brooks and Lulu Loughlin (both Collins Aerospace), as well as its ability to supply a 62-strong range of exotic alloys to customers involved in critical automotive, aerospace, medical, nuclear and oil and gas projects.
A strong commitment to being Carbon Neutral was also highlighted, with the Brierley Hill-based firm neutralising 500 tonnes of carbon every year by taking an active role in Certified Emission Reductions (CER) programmes.
These also deliver spin-off benefits of supporting education, employment, ecology and clean water in remote countries.
Tom Mander, Managing Director of Alloy Wire International, was delighted with the win: “This is the first time we’ve ever gone in for anything like this, so to win one of the big awards on the evening was a fantastic feeling.
“We’re very passionate to have our home in the Black Country and to be named as its ‘Manufacturing Champion’ by the Express and Star is a massive honour. Importantly, it reinforces the culture we have built and that is very much about our people, who all own a part of our business.”
He continued: “This approach has helped us grow into a truly global supplier, with wire manufactured and treated in our region being sent as far away as Azerbaijan, Australia, Kuwait, Kazakhstan and India.”
Alloy Wire International is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of round, flat and profile wire, supporting more than 6000 customers at home and abroad.
Following the MBO eighteen months ago, the company has delivered £17.9m of sales, a near £5m rise and £3m above anticipated revenues.
It received the Manufacturing Champion of the Year Award in front of 350 people at The Halls in Wolverhampton, with well-known ITV weather presenter Des hosting the evening.
