Pictured: (l-r) Leo Scanlon, Karen Aston and Steve
Bradley with a micro-hardness tester at Aptex
A supplier to the manufacturing industry has taken the first
major step in its development by moving onto the University of
Warwick Science Park.
Aptex, launched in 2007, has re-located from Solihull to the
Venture Centre in Sir William Lyons Road, Coventry, to accommodate
its rapid expansion.
The specialist company, which supplies high-tech equipment to
analyse and test the durability of solid materials used in
manufacturing, is expecting a five-fold growth in turnover this
year.
Aptex founder Steve Bradley, who has 20 years of experience in
the field of materials science, known as metallography, said: "The
equipment that we provide is critical in the manufacturing
process.
"It analyses and evaluates solid materials to determine whether
they are capable of withstanding a specific function."
Aptex supplies a range of equipment direct to companies in the
aerospace, automotive, power generation, heat treatment,
electronics and medical industries.
The equipment includes cutting machines, mounting presses,
grinding and polishing machines, and associated consumables, along
with microscopes, cameras, analytical software and hardness
testers.
Steve said: "Aptex has really taken off in the last 12 months
and has recently been strengthened by the arrival of Leo Scanlon,
who is a vastly experienced materials scientist and will be helping
to take the company further forward.
"We are dealing with our highest volume of orders to date and
expect the company to grow by nearly five times this year.
"Manufacturing in the UK has been badly hit over the last 20
years but I think it is now finding its own way through the
difficult economic climate with companies looking to expand and
increase their levels of production.
"Our biggest sector is aerospace which is showing signs of doing
well and we are also finding that the automotive industry is
picking up."
Aptex represents world-leading producers of machines for
metallography in the UK. Its recent alliance with German-based ATM
was partly behind the move to the Venture Centre, as the ability to
demonstrate its machines was required.
Steve said: "It was the only place that we found with facilities
that matched our requirements.
"As a start-up company, it's the right size, it's cost effective
and it has other useful facilities like a manned reception and a
conservatory for informal meetings which helps enhance our
image."
The Venture Centre is specifically designed to provide starter
space for new technology companies and stepping stone accommodation
for companies requiring larger space on the University of Warwick
Science Park in the future.
Karen Aston, manager of the Venture Centre, said: "Aptex had
reached the stage in its development where it needed to take the
next step up and we were able to find the ideal base from where it
could expand further.
"The unit provides the company with the ability to demonstrate
its full range of equipment which is vital for maintaining and
extending its business."