Lenny’s VIP at success story (From Dudley News)

Lenny’s VIP at success story

10:50am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News

LENNY Henry was guest of honour as a family-run Dudley foundry celebrated a £4.5 million investment.

The Dudley-born comic was on hand to officially launch a second new Disamatic moulding machine at Thomas Dudley Ltd, on Birmingham New Road, after unveiling its first two-years-ago.

Working alongside the first machine, the new state-of-the art production line can enable the 92 year-old company to produce up to 750 iron plumbing and construction castings an hour, significantly more than using traditional methods.
 

Following a tour of the foundry to see the new machine in action, Lenny, who grew up in nearby Douglas Road, officially unveiled a specially moulded plaque to mark the occasion and joked: “The last time I came here I was an hour late arriving because I got lost. This time I didn’t use the sat nav I just used a huge magnet which pulled me here.”

Martin Dudley, joint managing director and great-grandson of the foundry’s founder, said: “Our turnover is up from £25 million to £31 million and we now employ 350 people despite the biggest recession in 100 years and competition from foreign companies. We’ve invested in our equipment and invested in our people.
 

“We need to be proud of all that is British at the moment. We have a good news story and that’s why we are here today.”