Vanguard takes advantage of the 'Passport to Export' scheme via the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, which helps to meet the costs of globetrotting for business.

Sometimes the export opportunity can be found at home, however. For example, Wayne had a stand at the Autosport Racing Car Show in January 2007, and now has a project for some very specialised Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) cylinder blocks for motorsport use in New Zealand. “CGI is a high-value, technically demanding material, and we are one of only two foundries working with it.”Perhaps a little more down to earth, but good business nonetheless, Vanguard is casting sprockets for excavator chains an application that requires a very tough, wear-resistant material able to cope reliably with horrendous working conditions.

Supply Chain Management
Another facet of new business development which Wayne Moseley is offering is for Vanguard to look

and saving time. Wayne took me around the new facility. At one end are two large sand silos, which feed directly to the patterns on a carousel that thentransfers them to the pouring line. Electric furnacesprovide accurate melt control, confirmed by Vanguard's own spectrographic laboratory analysis. We felt the earth moving, a little, while standing next to the large de-sanding vibrator, while behind us the grinding discs sparked away in the fettling department. The latter now handles all finishing and fettling for both sites, taking some of the pressure off the original foundry, which will now be undergoing its own refurbishment programme.

Because of the big order book, Vanguard were recruiting for a second shift in the new plant, as they progressively ramped up production, with even the possibility of a third shift to give 24 hour working later on. Wayne commented: “Because of the many foundry closures of recent years, there is a reservoir of skilled foundry workers to draw on, and our good local reputation helps us to recruit the right people.

delivering ready-to-use components to whatever standard the customer specifies.”

As a low to medium volume foundry, Vanguard has also made something of a speciality of prototype work. “We are able to work fast enough to compete with Rapid Prototyping. We can work directly from CAD files to produce patterns in 5-7 days and actual parts in 2-3 weeks. If we are asked to work from 2D drawings or a sample, then it's around 3-4 weeks. Very often, if the part is low volume, say less than 2000 pa, we can then move very smoothly straight from prototype to production, using the same resin patterns.”

Wayne laid some emphasis on the pride that Vanguard takes in working closely and openly with its clients. “We work hard to ensure that we understand the exact requirements of our customers so that we can deliver. There's a constant pressure for higher standards at lower cost, so you can never stand still.” Vanguard certainly hasn't been standing still. Because the increased production over the past few years had begun to stretch the facilities at their original Bott Lane plant, they recently took on an 8-year lease of another nearby factory in Engine Lane. This is now known as Vanguard South, and the company re-invested £350,000 of the profits on upgrading and equipping it. A section of the new plant is sub-let to their Heat Treatment contractor, improving efficiency