Continental Diamond Tool Limited Soars with Record Sales Driven by £1.6 Million Investment
(From left to right) Michaela Lawton, Jeff Wirth, Troy Giacherio, and Justin Hughes in Continental Diamond Tool Limited’s new plating lab.
Continental Diamond Tool Limited — CDT’s subsidiary stationed in Kinmel Bay, Conwy, in North Wales— is experiencing an era of remarkable growth thanks to a substantial £1.6 million investment initiative. According to Jeff Wirth, the Managing Director, this rapid expansion is a result of a perfect blend of Welsh dedication and backing from its American stakeholders.
"As part of our expansion strategy, we opened a second production unit, which has facilitated the establishment of a new electro-plating operation. With support from the Welsh Government, this move marks a significant leap for us," said Wirth.
Continental Diamond Tool Limited is a niche outfit, one of merely two similar enterprises in the UK that specializes in crafting diamond-encrusted rotary dressers and grinders. The team designs their custom products for diverse manufacturing sectors like aerospace, automotive, medical, and semiconductor industries.
"In aerospace, our rotary diamond dressers play a pivotal role in crafting engine parts for prominent aircraft like the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner, as well as the Airbus A330-A380 series," commented Wirth. These aircraft parts are notably crafted at the Airbus facility in Broughton.
"Over 60% of our products find their way to 30 countries globally, experiencing substantial growth across Europe, Asia, and North America," added Wirth.
Originally founded as Consort Precision Diamond, the company will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in April of next year (2024). In 2018, it underwent a timely transition when Continental Diamond Tool Corporation acquired it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company showed resilience amid adversity as it pivoted its product range to mitigate a significant loss of orders in one of its largest sectors due to grounded passenger planes.
"It would have sunk most companies, but we had already started our diversification and a pretty significant culture change here," remarked Wirth during a visit from the States. "Sales are now at a record high. Over the last five years, our Rotary Diamond Dresser product line in Kinmel Bay has seen remarkable growth of over 70%, despite the negative effects of COVID," he continued.
CEO Nick Viggiano noted, "We believe in the workforce here, we believe in the people, their work ethic, their can do spirit, and the pride they take in their work. At CDT headquarters in New Haven, Indiana, the culture is the same. When you take modern technologies and join it with that culture, it’s a recipe for success.”
"The new energy and substantial investment brought by the new owners has been a game-changer," echoed Michaela Lawton, the finance manager. "We've also had a good relationship with the Welsh Government for some time. The latest support with the £90,000 we received from the Smart Cymru fund helped fast-track the new technology that we introduced through the electro-plated product."
The project has been a source of great pride to production manager Justin Hughes who’s been working at the Kinmel Bay site for the past 17 years.
He said: “We’ve got the backing of the American parent company behind us which enables us to push forward with investment in machinery and people to aim at new markets. It gives us reassurance and confidence as we continue to grow and develop.”
"The company is on an upward trajectory in terms of growth, turnover, profit, and being able to further diversify our product range is the next step forward,” adds Lawton. “It's a very exciting place to work, and the sky really is the limit.”
Related News Links:
https://www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/global-engineering-firm-north-wales-28144996
http://www.baysideradio.co.uk/news/kimmel-bay-global-engineering-firm-propelled-by-1-6m-boost-8260