Manufacturing firm champions sustainability with machinery investment from Lloyds

A Walsall-based steel processing manufacturer, RMP Products Ltd, is placing sustainability at the heart of its operations and ambitions for future growth, after investing in new, state-of-the-art energy-efficient plasma cutting machinery, supported by Lloyds.

With the new equipment in place, the company director at RMP Products Ltd, Paul Dyche, is hoping to grow future turnover from £6.5 million to £10 million.

The latest addition to the business’s capabilities is a high-definition, energy-efficient plasma cutting machine, which can reduce waste by up to 60%, all while maintaining exceptional output quality.

Replacing two older machines, the new technology brings a significant reduction in both operational costs and environmental impact.

While the firm’s old machinery required around 10 consumable parts per cutting head, this latest investment will double productivity with just two cutting heads, allowing multiple plates to be loaded and processed simultaneously.

It can cut materials up to 60mm thick, nearly double the capacity of the previous machinery, and eliminates the need for secondary cleaning, significantly cutting post-processing time.

With these enhanced capabilities, Paul and the team are opening the business up to more complex work and in-house opportunities.

The purchase was supported by a £240,000 asset finance package through Lloyds’ Clean Growth Finance Initiative (CGFI), which enables businesses to invest in energy-efficient projects by offering preferential funding rates.

This has played a pivotal role in helping the business reach new milestones on its sustainability journey, now with the latest introduction of this energy-efficient machine.

Beyond operational gains, the machine is also expected to create new jobs within the 34-strong team as demand continues to grow.

Its arrival enhances an already impressive blue-chip client base, with the company supplying well-known brands such as Caterpillar and JCB.

Products range from parts for heavy agricultural machinery used by ‘yellow goods’ operators, to structural steel components for national infrastructure projects, including for Network Rail, where RMP Products Ltd acts as a Tier 2 supplier.

Yet Paul and his team have even bigger ambitions, all rooted in sustainability. Guided by Lloyds, the next step for the business will be to introduce solar panels to help meet their goal of significantly reducing emissions, driving positive environmental change, and investing in a greener future for the sector.

This also includes LED lighting, enhanced insulation throughout the premises, and the addition of the new energy-saving plasma cutter.

Since launching in 1992, the business has been led by three directors and began with a single, traditional approach of cutting metal by using only gas. Fast forward to today, the introduction of the advanced plasma cutting machine will continue to support bespoke orders, from motorway signage base plates to complex industrial assemblies.

The business has also expanded its in-house capabilities by acquiring its operational premises, a key step in supporting long-term growth.

Looking ahead, RMP Products Ltd aims to boost profitability while safeguarding its reputation for quality. With international expansion potentially on the horizon, including opportunities in India to support customers like JCB, the future looks bright.

Paul Dyche, company director at RMP Products Ltd, said: “Lloyds has supported our business since we first opened our doors 33 years ago, and we’re looking forward to having them by our side for many more years to come.

“The next step for us, one that the bank is already helping us with, is introducing solar panels. This will help us take our energy savings even further and reduce our carbon footprint in the long term.”

Adam Pound, relationship manager at Lloyds, said: “We’ll continue working closely with Paul and his team to support the introduction of solar panels as the next step in their sustainability journey.

“We hope the ambition seen at RMP Products Ltd encourages other local businesses to explore ways they too can operate more responsibly and accelerate growth. It’s a great demonstration of how sustainability and commercial success can go hand in hand to create a truly rewarding partnership.”