A Black Country engineering company has expanded despite the tough economy after benefitting from diversifying into new sectors.

Heinrich Georg (UK), a special purpose machine designer and manufacturer, is moving more into work for aerospace companies, which has prompted an expansion at its base on Dunstall Hill Estate, Wolverhampton.

It has taken on an additional 5,000 sq ft to bring its total to 15,052 sq ft on the estate which is owned and managed by London and Cambridge Properties Ltd (LCP).

Managing director Neil Wyke said: “We needed more space for our technical design team and more room for our manufacturing capacity. We have created six new jobs and next month we have two university graduates joining us on the 3D solid works design side, which will bring the total workforce to 26.

“We have been on the estate for six or seven years and have grown steadily. We looked at the possibility of moving to the i54 business park site where some of our customers will be based. However we decided that our current location gave us everything we needed and fitted our business better.”

In addition to work on aerospace test rigs, the company remains committed to its core business of coil processing. It works with major steel companies, not just in the Black Country but around the UK, and is getting involved in bigger projects.

Mr Wyke said: “This is helping to raise our profile in the UK and with the backing of our German parent company we believe we can continue to grow.

“We have bucked the trend in keeping our manufacturing and site services in-house rather than subcontracting everything out.”