The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Kirkcaldy business takes to the skies after shifting sectors
Major investment has seen the engineering company move into aerospace industry
A Kirkcaldy company has moved into the aerospace engineering field after becoming the first company in the UK to acquire the latest generation of milling machine.
Sterling Precision Engineering Services Limited, which recently celebrated 10 years in business, previously operated in the oil and gas sector.
However, the downturn in this industry led the company to seek to diversify.
It acquired a six-figure hire purchase facility from Bank of Scotland to buy the state of the art machine.
The new equipment, provided by DMG Mori, has allowed the firm to manufacture more complex and specialised products, broadening the scope of services it can offer clients.
As a direct result of its recent investment, the company, which is based at Mitchelston Industrial Estate, has secured contracts worth £250,000 a year in the aerospace sector, including making key parts for ejector seats and civil aircrafts.
Managing director John Mitchell said: “Having the latest machinery on the market has made a huge difference to our business.
“Not only has it led us to important new contracts but we’re now able to carry out existing work for our longstanding clients much faster.
“We’ve certainly come a long way. My wife and I started our business after buying some machinery from a retiring company.
“Alongside the machinery, we also took on a couple of the customers and over the years we’ve grown our portfolio of clients.
“The oil and gas industry has changed a lot in recent years and the support from the Bank of Scotland has helped us diversify our business offering.”
Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance, recently submitted a motion in parliament to acknowledge the company’s achievements.
He said: “It’s excellent to see this Fife company become a key Scottish player in the aerospace field.”
Charles Davidson from Bank of Scotland added: “The company shows just how resilient Scottish companies can be in changing markets.”