From a small toolmaker in Warwickshire to a global aerospace supplier, ANT Industries is living proof that UK manufacturers can thrive on the international stage if they embrace export.
Based in Atherstone, the precision engineering firm has become one of the country’s great export success stories. Since shipping its first overseas order in 1997, ANT has grown international sales from zero to more than 80% of turnover, supplying high-precision components to aerospace customers across three continents.
For Managing Director Shaun Rowley, the message is clear: export is the future of UK manufacturing.
“Exports now account for the vast majority of our sales, and that’s been built steadily over the years by focusing on quality, capability and customer trust,” he says. “We’ve gone from being a domestic supplier to competing – and winning – on the global stage. That success is not just about machinery, it’s about the skills of our people and the resilience of our business.”
From its 28,000 ft² facility in Atherstone, ANT manufactures rings, casings, complex prismatic components and assemblies for aerospace and gas turbine engines. Its customers include global giants such as Rolls-Royce, Eaton Aerospace and ITP, and the company has already secured more than £30 million in orders over the next three years.
Rowley believes the firm’s export-driven growth is underpinned by relentless reinvestment.
“We’ve invested heavily in advanced five-axis machining centres and grinding technology because we see the scale of opportunity ahead,” he explains. “Yes, there are challenges – whether that’s geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruption, or shifting demand – but aerospace is a growth market. We’re committed to ensuring UK suppliers like us are equipped to meet that demand.”
The company’s international success has had a direct impact at home, with job creation and skills development central to its strategy. Apprenticeships, training programmes and a push to attract more women into advanced manufacturing have strengthened its workforce for the future.
“For us, investing in people is every bit as important as investing in machines,” Rowley says. “We’ve been successful in attracting young engineers and developing a diverse team. That strengthens both our company and the wider UK aerospace industry.”
As UK manufacturing looks to its future beyond domestic markets, ANT Industries’ journey offers a blueprint for others to follow: a mix of export-led growth, investment in technology, and commitment to skills.
“Our export growth has been a journey of commitment and confidence,” Rowley concludes. “We’re proud to fly the flag for UK manufacturing and to prove that a business rooted in Warwickshire can play a leading role on the international stage.”