WMG helps Birmingham manufacturer strengthen its position in advanced manufacturing
Friday 23 October 2026
WMG helps Birmingham manufacturer strengthen its position in advanced manufacturing
Experts from the SME GroupLink opens in a new window at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick, have pledged their support to one of Birmingham’s longest-established manufacturers, helping them to strengthen supply chains and diversify into new, high-growth markets.
C. Brandauer & Co LtdLink opens in a new window successfully applied for £199,500 through the West Midlands Supply Chain Transition ProgrammeLink opens in a new window for funding to develop a new manufacturing process for a critical component used inside electric vehicle motors.
The 12-month partnership with WMG will help Brandauer, a global precision metal-stamping and tooling specialist, to improve how it manufactures lamination stacks, the layered stacks of ultra-thin electrical steel sheets that form the magnetic core of an electric motor.
Each stack is built from more than 3,000 individual laminations and their precision directly affects how well a motor performs, how efficiently it uses energy and how reliable it is over time.
The programme is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Investment Zone programmeLink opens in a new window, and delivered by the Supply Smarter West Midlands Consortium, which includes WMG, C&W Business Solutions, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Birmingham City University, Coventry University and University of Wolverhampton.
While automotive has historically formed a significant part of its customer base, Brandauer has been expanding into aerospace and defence, including emerging drone technologies, and has already secured new orders in this cluster.
Dr Federico MelottiLink opens in a new window, Principal Engineer, WMG, added: “We’re pleased to deliver this project through the Supply Chain Transition Programme, continuing WMG’s 15-year partnership with Brandauer, to further support the company to strengthen its position in advanced manufacturing, while continuing to diversify into emerging markets.”
Rowan Crozier MBE, Chief Executive and co-owner of Brandauer, said their current process suffers from inconsistency which means too many parts are scrapped and faults are often caught too late in production which makes it harder to compete for larger, high-volume contracts from major vehicle manufacturers and their tier 1 suppliers.
He said: “For Brandauer, this project was taken on as a strategic way to both develop Brandauer’s internal capabilities and solve real-world problems for both current and future customers, adding huge value for everyone involved.
“The real winning formula for this project was the combination of Brandauer’s expertise in precision engineering with WMG’s amazing access to deep research.
“The result will be a repeatable and scalable approach to bonded motor lamination stacks and after accessing WMG’s capabilities, we are confident the manufacturing process will be a success.
“This new process will give customers greater confidence in the quality, performance and scalability of all lamination projects.
“It’s also important not to forget that this investment has provided the UK with a crucial sovereign capability, which is becoming increasingly non-negotiable for more markets than ever.”
The project is the latest example of how business support is helping established West Midlands manufacturers strengthen their position in high-growth markets.
Read more about WMG and Brandauer’s partnership: Brandauer and WMGLink opens in a new window
Find out more about WMG’s SME programmes: SME Support - WMG - University of WarwickLink opens in a new window