A Staffordshire sheet metal engineering specialist is entering another chapter with the move to a new state-of-the-art factory paving the way for more jobs.

RE Cooke has tapped into support from Accelerate, the Advantage West Midlandsbacked supply chain initiative, and business consultancy BDS to mastermind the relocation.

It received a £12,000 grant from Accelerate, along with advice and support on the move, after the firm outgrew its current premises.

It is expecting to take on new staff to cope with demand from clients in the automotive, general engineering, military and aerospace industries.

The Burton-upon-Trentbased company believes the move will provide the additional capacity and investment opportunities needed to build on record sales of £2.5 million last year.

Operations director Bruce Cresswell said: "The new 22,000 sq ft factory is the culmination of three years' growth, which has seen us increase turnover by nearly 30 per cent.

"Our ability to add value at every opportunity has enabled us to carve a niche in the sector.

"This is something we are looking to take advantage of in a host of new industries."

Located at Stretton Business Park, the £2.5 million purpose-built facility is just two miles away from its existing site in Shobnall Road and should be completed by the middle of December.

The new factory will also include an open plan shop floor and offices, while the company's former premises will be sold to property developers for 59 new houses and flats.

Mr Cresswell said: "The investment does not stop purely on the fixtures and fittings.

"We are looking at putting in two new laser cutting lines, a world class paint plant and a machine that helps us produce our own nitrogen for use in manufacturing processes.

"In an era where quality and cost downs are so important, continuous improvement through our people and the facilities we have available are crucial."

R E Cooke, which employs 50, has enjoyed particular success in boosting business with JCB and now produces a range of fabricated parts for use in vehicles ranging from the one-man diggers, through to the big earth movers.

The company, which is looking to add five new employees in the next 12 months, has benefited from taking part in a number of training courses and seminars.

"We finished the lean manufacturing activity last year and this has allowed us to solve problems, introduce new processes and provide full training for the workforce in 5Cs and Six Sigma.

"This has been supple-mented more recently with best practice management systems and we can safely say that both programmes have had a major impact."

The Accelerate-backed network typically comprises eight suppliers and a lead consultant, who will provide expertise and knowledge on a specific subject.

Companies can then participate in a number of group sessions - ideal for sharing experiences and problem solving before benefiting from one-to-one sessions with specialists.

BDS' Adrian Viles said: "The networks are a fantastic way for suppliers to get together in a supportive environment and achieve things that maybe are out of their reach on their own.

"RE Cooke has shown what can be achieved when you open up your mind to new processes and is in a perfect position to make the most of the new factory."