SUBCONTRACTING NEWS

Anochrome acquired by its management team

Private equity firm Endless LLP has supported a management buyout of the Anochrome Group, a UK-headquartered surface finishing and coatings specialist. Anochrome, which has its headquarters in Wolverhampton, has been trading for over 80 years, providing surface coatings, corrosion protection and thread-locking sealants services to a diverse customer base across a range of sectors, including automotive, construction, industrial fixings, motor sports and renewables.

Anochrome operates from sites in the UK, Poland and Czechia. The transaction represents a transition from long-standing family ownership and the start of a new phase for the business. Endless’ investment will support Anochrome’s next stage of development and growth. The business will continue to be led by its existing senior management team, headed by Mark Jones.

More information www.anochrome.com

3D printing entrepreneur secures two King’s Awards

A Warwickshire entrepreneur who once replaced his mother’s dishwasher with a homemade 3D printer has become one of the youngest recipients of two King’s Awards for Enterprise. Mitchell Barnes (pictured), founder of Shipston-on-Stour-based RYSE 3D, launched the business in 2017 after recognising the potential of additive manufacturing (AM) to move beyond prototyping and into production.

Today, the company supplies high-performance components to 23 hypercar projects worldwide, while also supporting customers in the aerospace, defence and energy sectors. Its growth has helped drive annual turnover close to £5m, with international sales accounting for almost half of revenue.

That success has now been recognised with a King’s Award for International Trade, following the company’s King’s Award for Innovation in 2024.

“To win one King’s Award is special, but to receive a second for growing our business overseas is incredible,” says Mitchell, who runs the company alongside his brother Cameron. “When we started, we wanted to prove that AM could be used for series production. Today, we’re supplying complex components in volumes ranging from thousands to tens of thousands, while exporting UK-developed technology to customers around the world.”

Over the past three years, RYSE 3D has invested more than £1m in new equipment, R&D, advanced materials, and the launch of its UK-engineered LANDR 3D printer. The workforce has also grown to 18 employees.

The company’s scalable production process requires no tooling investment and uses widely available engineering polymers, helping manufacturers reduce costs, increase flexibility and strengthen supply chains.

While automotive and motorsport remain important markets, RYSE 3D is increasingly applying its expertise across aerospace, construction, energy, medical and defence applications as demand for production-ready additive manufacturing continues to grow.

More information www.ryse3d.com

Surface finishing specialist secures NADCAP accreditation

Surface Coating Ltd has been awarded NADCAP accreditation, the globally recognised quality benchmark for special processes used across the aerospace and defence industries.

The Weymouth-based company is now one of the only providers in the south of England with this accreditation for coating and finishing processes, strengthening the region’s capability to support high-specification aerospace and defence manufacturing.

NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defence Contractors Accreditation Program) is an industry-managed accreditation system that verifies whether specialist processes such as coating, painting and finishing meet the stringent standards required by major aerospace manufacturers and defence contractors worldwide.

Achieving the accreditation confirms that Surface Coating Ltd’s processes meet internationally recognised requirements for quality, traceability and repeatability – key requirements for companies operating within complex global supply chains. For manufacturers, it means they can access NADCAP-accredited coating and finishing services within the south of England, rather than relying on suppliers elsewhere in the UK.

The accreditation follows significant investment by Surface Coating Ltd in its technical capabilities, quality systems and staff training. The company provides specialist finishing services including: wet spray painting, integrated finishing, powder coating and blasting.

NADCAP accreditation is widely regarded as the gold standard for special processes within the aerospace sector and requires companies to pass rigorous audits and maintain strict ongoing compliance.

Tom Williamson, director of Surface Coating Ltd, says: “Achieving NADCAP accreditation is a major milestone for our business and reflects the dedication of our team to operating at the highest standards required by the aerospace and defence sectors. The process is extremely rigorous, so gaining accreditation demonstrates that our systems, processes and quality controls meet the expectations of some of the world’s most demanding industries.”

More information www.surfacecoating.co.uk

Adi Group appointment

Engineering solutions specialist, Adi Group, has appointed Steve Appleton as group growth director. Appleton brings more than 25 years of experience in sales and business restructuring. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening collaboration across Adi Group’s specialist divisions to deliver more integrated engineering solutions for clients. Beginning his career at Ford Motor Company, Appleton’s experience includes roles across highly regulated sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, petrochemical, government, education, transport and retail.

More information https://adiltd.co.uk/

Subcon: The manufacturing solutions show

Subcon, the UK’s leading event for subcontract manufacturing and supply chain solutions, is taking place this week (3-4 June) at the NEC in Birmingham. Whether exploring new manufacturing partners, looking for ways to streamline supply chains, or aiming to reduce costs, this is the place to connect and discover ideas that can make a real difference.

The show offers the opportunity to connect with 200+ leading UK and international suppliers, all in one place. Visitors can also: take part in ‘Skills Sprint’ workshops packed with practical tools ready for immediate application; gain fresh insights through CPD-accredited talks delivered by industry leaders from Airbus, Bentley Motors, Rolls-Royce, Make UK and more; and follow tailored visitor trails designed around key sectors.

More information www.subconshow.co.uk