Brandauer is working with Ford Motor Company and a tier 1 supplier from Eastern Europe to develop tooling and precision components for vehicle electrification. The partnership supports electric vehicle manufacturing and include design for manufacturing, tool design, and production automation.
Brandauer will support projects from early-stage consultancy through tool design, process automation and volume production. The initial contracts follow the company’s strategy after its management buyout (MBO) and support its plan to reach £12m in revenue by 2029.
Rowan Crozier, CEO of Brandauer, commented: “When Stuart Berry, Dave Champman and I spoke after the recent deal, we highlighted our desire to move from a traditional stamping business to a precision engineering provider.”
“This move will transition us from a sub-contract stamping specialist to a one-stop partner, who can scale precision metal/plastic assemblies from concept stage and prototype development, through to production ramp-up – ultimately capable of millions of component assemblies supplied globally every week.”
“This is a long-term vision that will maximize recent investments in consultancy, design and automation capability and we are already seeing demand from existing and new clients to tap into this wraparound service.”
He continued: “Automotive is a natural home for what we do, as it demands precision components and, with the drive for electrification, is looking to push the boundaries of innovation.”
“Contracts with Ford Motor Company and the Eastern European tier 1 supplier give us confidence that what we are offering is in demand, a demand that is also transferrable to multiple precision sectors, including defense, aerospace and power generation/management.”
“The MBO was a massive moment in our 164-year history. Now is the time to write the next chapter that will keep world class manufacturing in Birmingham for another century!”
Brandauer is developing a lamination progression tool larger than 2500 mm in diameter for a Ford Motor Company electrification project. The tool integrates automation to stamp, bond, stack, and skew large-diameter thin-gauge laminations used in electric vehicle (EV) motors.
Development included design for manufacturing workshops, tool engineering, laser-cut prototypes, and press selection analysis. Brandauer is building the full production tool. Brandauer and Ford will share project experience through the Precision Tooling Academy, run in partnership with In-Comm Training.
Rowan added: “The tier 1 automotive work is based on a similar approach, again tapping into our comprehensive precision engineering capability.”
“This time, we are working with the client to create a fully automated production assembly line, with three world class production tools at its heart – delivering maximum efficiency and tolerances.”
He concluded: “For Brandauer, these new contracts aren’t just a symbol of new business. It’s a symbol of a new beginning. Both companies have recognized our expertise in multiple sectors of the process, and this has ensured better communication and faster lead times by cutting out third-party suppliers, so the end-to-end projects can be completed under one roof.”
Brandauer plans to obtain the global IATF 16949 automotive certification by 2027, adding to its ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 quality standards.
Source: Brandauer
About Brandauer
Brandauer is a precision metal stamping and tooling company based in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Founded in 1862, it manufactures custom stamped metal components and tooling for global customers. The company supplies parts for automotive, electronics, industrial, and engineered product markets. Its customers include original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers that require high-precision components. Brandauer provides services that include design support, prototyping, in-house toolmaking, precision stamping, and component logistics. Manufacturing, tooling, and engineering operations are centralized at its Birmingham facility. Brandauer also takes part in workforce development and tooling skills initiatives.