Scottish prototyping and 3D-printing company Angus 3D Solutions is investing more than £165,000 in new people, equipment and bigger premises.
The Brechin-based firm, led by manufacturing veteran Andy Simpson, is aiming to achieve turnover growth of more than 20% by the end of 2023.
One of the first parts of implementing the new growth plan with the firm's first apprentice, 18-year-old local school leaver Ritchie Webster, beginning his four-year Modern Apprenticeship in Additive & Subtractive Manufacturing at Dundee & Angus College next Monday.
He’s been gaining work experience at Angus 3D Solutions since September last year after contacting the firm. That’s grown from work experience Fridays to holiday work and then full-time after he left school last month.
Simpson was keen to help him get into the industry early, as he got his own start in manufacturing through a local apprenticeship. He expects the cost of the apprenticeship over four years to be in the region of £65,000.
Simpson also hopes to take on another new member of staff in October or November – when he plans to move to larger premises at the Montrose Road Industrial Estate. This should also increase manufacturing space by 250% and allow him to invest £100,000 in more equipment and improvements to manufacturing processes.
The acquisition of a water jet cutter earlier this year with an £8,000 BIG Fund grant from Angus Council - to cut any material for Angus 3D Solutions’ own clients and give access to other local businesses - highlighted the space limitations at its existing council-owned units in Brechin Business Centre, where it’s been based since launch in January 2017.
Angus 3D Solutions supports multiple industries in Scotland and beyond – from manufacturing, medical and oil and gas, to horticulture automation, transport, aviation and satellite launch projects.
Its clients include W.L. Gore, Johnstons of Elgin, Intelligent Growth Solutions and a Formula 1 racing team.
Simpson said: “I’m delighted to be able to create local jobs as part of my new growth plan, which aims to take our turnover past £400,000 by the end of 2023.
“While we’re grateful for the excellent support we’ve had from Angus Council over the years, the larger premises at Montrose Road Industrial Estate are better suited to our current and future needs and will enable us to increase production capacity to realise our forecast growth.”
In February 2020, Angus 3D Solutions became part of The Angus Solutions Group, along with sister company Angus Machining Solutions, which provides outsourced machining and manufacturing.
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