Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, Advanced Chemical Etching has produced its 150 millionth component. The ‘etched’ part, is heading into the world of electrification.
Launched by Alan Rollason, David Latham and current Executive Director Chris Ball, the company started life in a small 4500 sq ft unit with just six employees and a first order – worth £500 – going to Pascall Electronics on the Isle of Wight. Today, ACE ships components to more than 33 different countries and works with customers in automotive, aerospace, medical, renewables and electronics.
The company, which holds ISO:9001 (quality) and ISO:14001 (environmental) accreditations, currently employs 70 people in Telford.
Chris Ball commented: “Covid-19, Brexit, the global financial crisis and recent supply chain disruption have all been overcome and this is thanks to our commitment to investment in new technology and our people.”
“This has ensured we can continually innovate our processes, including adding new materials like aluminium and titanium. Achieving the highest possible standards in etching gives our clients the opportunity to choose this type of process over more traditional alternatives to achieve lighter products.
“All the focus now is on the next quarter of a century. £350,000 was spent earlier this year on the installation of two additional single chamber Chemcut etching machines and a state-of-the-art UCE developer, and this has given us quicker and cleaner imaging.
The company produces anything from simple washers to highly complex precision components for a wide variety of applications, including battery interconnects, fuel cell bi-polar plates, battery grids, cooling plates and heating components.
There have been some major milestones during the last 25 years, the first hitting the £1m turnover mark in 2003 and then setting up our sister business ACE Forming (Kingswinford), before appointing ACE’s current Managing Director Ian Whateley in 2012.
“We want 2025 to be a real celebration of what the business has achieved and where we want to go over the next twenty-five years,” said Whateley.
“A big Summer BBQ took place recently and it was great to share this event with retired founders Alan Rollason and Dave Latham (both now 78). And we’re going to give every one of our 70-strong workforce their birthdays off as a little thank you! This will not just be for 2025, but for every year going forward.
For more information please visit www.ace-uk.net.
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