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Case Study: Metro Technologies

Published: July 2004

What does the Company do?

Metro Technologies Ltd produces and supplies a range of highly technical components for global electronics manufacturers and is also in the process of developing new products. It exports its products to China, Taiwan, Thailand, Europe, USA and Mexico

Incorporated in 1998 the company relocated to the South Yorkshire region in 2002 to take advantage of the support offered to business by organisations like the Fund and to benefit from the indigenous engineering and metallurgy skill base.

Why we invested £50,000

In the 1990’s the electronics industry invested huge sums on new factories and surface mount equipment in order to manufacture products such as mobile phones for the US and European markets. Increased competition resulted in a drive for greater efficiency and productivity and a key component in this drive is the nozzles for the surface mounting machines.

Worldwide there are some 1000 producers of SMT (Surface mounted technology) machines but Metro Technologies manufacture nozzles for 6; Siemans, Fuji, Panasonic, Universal, Camalot and Philips. Together these manufacturers cover about 75% of the total SMT machines. The potential market therefore is world wide and the value of nozzle usage for machines is estimated at £175 million per annum. As a result of completely re-engineering the product the company now sells nozzles that are as good or better than other OEMs.

This huge potential market, combined with an established distribution network and brand meant that South Yorkshire Investment Fund were delighted to help, particularly as Metro Technologies continue to support manufacturers in South Yorkshire.

Specifically, the £50,000 loan was required for tooling and inspection equipment, a marketing campaign for new products and participation in an overseas trade show and for working capital.

Investment package provided

As well as the loan from SYIF, the company is on the European funded High Growth Start Up Programme and has also benefited from IFG2 – the new scheme funded by the European Regional Development through Objective 1, and managed by Business Link South Yorkshire.

Progress to date

Progress is being made in developing the market and obtaining product acceptance from customers. Turnover is growing.

In late July 2004, the company moved its’ office from Buckinghamshire to Doncaster – another sign of confidence in South Yorkshire.

View from the management

Craig Jones, Managing Director of Metro Technologies, said: "The SYIF secured loan has been a great help in easing our cash flow as we continue to develop and improve new products which is an important aspect of Metro’s ethic of high standards of production."

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