An automotive firm has come back from the dead and is showing there is still life in the sector after clinching the highest quality standard.
B2 Automotive Components was set up three years ago when Japanese company NSK left Coventry and moved to Durham.
NSK plant manager Geoff Buxton wanted to stay in the city along with several other former colleagues and was left to pick up some of the medium and lower-volume contracts that NSK had left behind.
Mr Buxton formed b2 Automotive along with manufacturer Geoff Bayton, and set up at a new site the Little Heath Industrial Estate in Foleshill.
The company, which has a turnover of £1.5 million, has won extra business after achieving the TS 16949 international quality standard.
It is in talks with several more major players and could add to its 20 strong workforce. The firm manufactures steering systems and counts LDV, Land Rover and sports car manufacturer Morgan as its regular clients.
Mr Bayton said: "Achieving this standard will hopefully help us win new orders. It is the standard you have to reach if you want to supply people like Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota.
"It measures quality and how well your business is run. Since we achieved it we have won orders, especially with kit car makers like Westfield and Tiger Racing."
Throughout the company's history, it has been helped by the Business Link service at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
In particular, it has made use of the Accelerate programme. The scheme has provided support with marketing, training, software design and capital equipment purchases.
