Four leading manufacturing companies have been rebranded, following a major integration into their parent company.
Cooper Brown Enterprises Ltd. (CBE Ltd.), the parent company of BG Engineering, NiTEC, Pentag Gears and Spire Laboratories is now known as CBE+, with the individual divisions rebranded as CBE+ Precision; CBE+ Electroless Nickel, CBE+ Gears, CBE+ Beam Pumps and CBE+ Laboratories, respectively.
To mark the rebrand and to be able to showcase the investment to customers and business contacts, CBE+ held an open day at its factory at Holmewood, Chesterfield, which was attended by over 75 delegates from the aerospace, defence and general manufacturing sector as well as customers, the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield and council leaders.
During the event, guests heard from Company Director’s Marie Cooper and Chris Brown on how the businesses have integrated to create a one-stop-shop for customers, which will reduce lead times and costs as well as the company’s carbon footprint. This was followed by lunch and a VIP tour of the new factory and the new laboratory used for testing metal coatings.
Marie Cooper, Managing Director of CBE+, explains: “Since achieving AS9100, the international management system standard for the Aircraft, Space and Defence (AS&D) industry, for our precision engineering business, we have experienced strong demand from customers for other services within the group. We recognised the benefits of having a single brand, so we can more easily demonstrate the complementary capabilities that we can offer to the supply chain. Our aim is to become a multi-disciplinary supplier to many industries including the aerospace & defence, energy and renewables sectors. The Open Day also gave us the opportunity to reveal our exciting ‘Vision for the future’, whilst enabling delegates to see the investment we have made here.”
She continues: “We have moved our manufacturing businesses onto one site at Enterprise Drive in Holmewood, Chesterfield and this has meant a significant investment in acquiring equipment and technology, implementing a new factory layout, refurbishing the offices, manufacturing facility and conference room, plus build a brand new laboratory for testing, validation and certification for the plating industry. We are also investing in a new aerospace plating line, which we expect to be completed by the end of 2019.”
Following his tour of the CBE+ factory, Mayor of Chesterfield Cllr Gordon Simmons said: “I have been very impressed with what I’ve seen today. It is fantastic to see a business investing in Chesterfield and employing so many local people. It is great to hear about the Apprenticeship scheme here, to know that this company is investing in its future and that everyone here is so passionate about their work. The factory is so clean and makes great use of technology – it really does represent a factory of the future. The new laboratory is very impressive too and I was interested to look at the new materials testing facility that has been built here. I wish everyone at CBE+ all the very best as they move forward with their ambitious plans.”
CBE+ and its businesses are based on Williamthorpe Industrial Estate in Chesterfield, in an 80,000 ft2 facility that was originally the base for BG Engineering, a leading subcontractor of precision machined components, now known as CBE+ Precision. Pentag Gears, now CBE+ Gears, a designer and manufacturer of high-quality gearing, and CBE+ Beam Pumps relocated to the facility in late 2018, which was followed by Spire Laboratories, now CBE+ Laboratories which specialises in testing, validation and certification for the plating industry in May 2019. NiTEC Ltd, now known as CBE+ Electroless Nickel, one of the UK’s leading electroless nickel plating specialists will shortly be building its new aerospace line here.
Marie Cooper explains: “Chesterfield is a fantastic, central location for our company and the relocation is enabling all our business units to work much more closely together under one roof. We are excited about the possibility of being able to enhance and expand our services to existing and new clients, whilst continuing to provide the quality services for customers both in the UK and overseas.”
