Company News

Investment 2011

FSG Tool & Die Ltd have today confirmed an agreement with Jones & Shipman to install the new generation of CNC Grinding equipment. The first phase of this installation will be completed by May 2011 to coincide with the move to a full double day shift operation.

Gareth M Jenkins, Managing Director commented “ This continues the policy of the company to invest year on year in the very best technology available. The board hope to approve the project for 2012 shortly as we strive to maintain or world class status. As always we are grateful for the continued support of the Welsh Assembly Government in many aspects of our business”.
 

Skills 4 Growth

An investment in next generation technology and staff training is paying off for a Llantrisant company that is set to achieve a record turnover this financial year.

Despite challenging market conditions FSG Tool and Die has increased exports, made significant inroads into new markets and on target to turnover £5m by the end of its financial year in February.

The privately owned manufacturing business provides bespoke solutions on a “concept into component” basis. It designs and manufactures press tools, injection moulds and thermoform tooling for a range of sectors, with the packaging market accounting for 40% of business.

Managing Director Gareth Jenkins said a bold decision taken by the Board last year to invest £750,000 in the very latest technology ensured they were in prime position to take advantage of the upturn.

“Our investment was supported by the Welsh Assembly Government which funded the relevant high level skills training through the Skills Growth Wales programme which was vitally important.

“That support represented a considerable investment in bespoke training and the additional skills of our workforce mean we are now far more flexible as a company while the investment in technology means we can provide the high quality products demanded by customers.

“A number of our competitors at home and overseas did not survive the recession and we subsequently won new business. Export sales have driven our growth and we are now stronger than ever. We have picked up a lot of business overseas and planning a second raft of investment in new equipment.”

Lesley Griffiths, Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, said Skills Growth Wales, which is backed by European funds, was designed to support companies with growth potential.

“It is an important strand in our Economic Renewal strategy to support business growth and reinforces the importance of developing the skills of our workforce to meet the challenges ahead.

“It’s good to hear how this high level training support has had a real impact and enabled FSB Tool and Die to maximise its investment in the latest technology and is making a real difference to their bottom line.”

Skills Growth Wales has already committed over £3.2m to support more than 2,000 individuals across 22 companies and is the successor programme to ProAct, which helped 10,500 workers in 250 companies.

FSG Tool & Die was one of the first companies to benefit from ProACt in 2009 when it faced extremely difficult trading conditions, turnover dropped 22%, and 10% of the workforce was made redundant. ProAct funding enabled the company to upskill staff and invest in R&D and product development. Staff levels are now back to 83 and FSG Tool and Die celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

FSG wins second training award

In November 2010 the company collected its second award from SEMTA in recognition of the outstanding achievements in apprentice training.

In presenting the award Bill Peaper of SEMTA commented, “The judges felt compelled to acknowledge the achievements of the company and the young people, not just in recent time but bovver the last 50 years. The management of the company have been very involved in the new Pathways to Apprenticeship scheme in Wales and this has encourage even more young people to choose a career in manufacturing engineering. We greatly appreciate their commitment. For an SME to commit to this level of training over the long term speaks volumes about their excellence as an organisation”