Pre-tax profits accelerated by 30% to £1.51m at AB Dynamics, the Bradford on Avon-based automotive equipment manufacturer, as it benefited from a new robot assembly unit and improved margins.
The profit rise was achieved on a 13% increase in to £7.56m for the six months to February 28 – a period when it also achieved higher manufacturing efficiencies, launched new track testing products, set up a Japanese operation to boost its presence in the country and won its first order from Brazil. 
The robot assembly unit is part of an interim manufacturing facility ahead of AB building a state-of-the-art production plant on the outskirts of Bradford, which will be partly paid for by £2.3m from the Government Regional Growth Fund.
The new plant, which has planning approval, is expected to open at the end of next year and will enable the firm to embark on a more aggressive product development programme.
Managing director Tim Rogers said: “For the past six months the company has delivered significant revenue and profit growth, combined with operational efficiencies leading to improved gross margins and cash generation.
“The group continues to go from strength to strength: the progress of the new factory remains on track with completion expected in the latter part of 2016; and the company continues to successfully attract key personnel having passed the 60 employees landmark.”
The firm expects the global automotive industry to invest more in research and development with both regulatory factors and global competition driving the industry to develop new cars in a timely and efficient way.
Its lab testing and track testing products enable car companies to develop and design vehicles that are safe and pleasing to drive by factoring in precise dynamic measurements derived on their products from our machines.
AB was founded in 1982 and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market in 2013. It designs and makes advanced testing systems and measurement products for the global automotive industry, supplying all of the top 20 automotive manufacturers including Honda, Toyota, Ford and Volkswagen, who routinely use the its products to test vehicle safety.
