Petford Group crowned overall winner at MIM Awards 2017

Toolmaking and injection moulding specialists Petford Group has been crowned Overall Winner of the official Made in the Midlands (MIM) Awards 2017 in front of over 200 delegates from Midlands industry.

Petford Group managing director Melvin Sinar was presented with the prestigious award by Made in the Midland’s non-executive Chairman Lord Mike Whitby. The annual gathering was held at Lilleshall National Sports & Conferencing Centre near Telford, the birthplace of the industrial revolution. The firm received the award in recognition of their impressive £1.8million investment within a new moulding facility over the past 18 months coupled with significant growth.

On accepting his award, Petford managing director Melvin Sinar said: “It’s been an honour to win the overall award for 2017 after being runners up last year. This year has been our most invested yet and the hard work is already paying off with sales into the business and further investment is continuing for us to reach our goal of £20m turnover in the next 3 years. It was great to see so many MIM members yesterday and celebrate with all the combined success 2017 has brought for all and here’s to 2018 being an even bigger success for the region”.

Petford Group were the overall winner at the 2017 Made in the Midlands Awards / Picture: MIM

The 2017 Made in the Midlands Awards also so Alucast Limited crowned as Overall Runners Up and a further nine manufacturing achievement awards presented to SMB Pressings Ltd and Hills Numberplates Ltd (diversification), Kloeckner Metals Ltd and Hayley Group Ltd (innovation), Subcon Laser Cutting (growth and investment), Boneham & Turner Ltd and M.A.Ford Europe Ltd (overseas success) and Salop Design & Engineering Limited/ Incomm-Training Services Ltd (services to industry).

Perhaps the largest cheer of the capacity 200 strong audience of fellow MIM members came for Rachel Wiffin of Bridgnorth Aluminium who scooped ‘Female Engineer of the year’ and Matthew Taylor of City College Nottingham, who was crowned ‘Young Inventor of the year’.

The awards bash also held a debate discussing how to get the most out of Made in the Midlands featuring Martin Dinsley of DURA Automotive, Matthias Meyer of Heller Machine Tools and Liam Conway of Made in the Midlands Patron Control Energy Costs, chaired by Made in the Midlands President Chris Greenough. This was followed by a passionate speech from Made in the Midlands non-executive Chairman Lord Mike Whitby regarding the future of manufacturing in the UK and the vital importance of the Midlands industry achieving better representation in order to get the recognition it deserves.

Petford has recently invested £1.8m in a new moulding facility / Picture: Petford Group

The event was closed by Made in the Midlands CEO Jason Pitt, who updated delegates on upcoming Made in the Midlands projects over the next 12 months, including an Equality campaign, the ‘Made in Barometer’, a revamped online portal and new plans for Made in London.