Walsall-based Birchills Automotive launches car part art business with six-figure finance package

By Sam Pither

24 February 2023

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Walsall-based automotive manufacturer Birchills Automotive is using a six-figure funding package from Lloyds Bank to turn used parts into sculptures.

The firm, which has been trading in the town for 130 years, manufactures exhaust systems for the car and motorcycle industry as well as using computer aided design and 3D printing to create working models for the design process.

Burchills has now launched Birchills Sculptures & Metal Restorations to repurpose unused metal from its manufacturing process to create and sell designs using recycled 304 aircraft grade stainless steel.

The items being made include garden products such as planters, pots and furniture along with bespoke sculptures and decorative items for the home which are weather-proof and designed by the firm’s in-house team.

Birchills 2 Started by the son of Director Andrew Wellings, Oliver, when he joined the company in 2021, the business is planning to exhibit in the UAE in the coming months. Lloyds Bank is supporting Birchills Sculptures & Metal Restorations to sell the designs internationally with an overdraft and credit card package that will allow them to exhibit overseas.

Andrew Wellings, director at Birchills Automotive said: “When Oliver joined the company, his eye for creativity spotted that unused metal from exhaust parts could be completely transformed into beautiful sculptures. He soon got to work and began to create extraordinary monuments from the waste product.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Lloyds Bank dating back more than 40 years. The recent support has been truly invaluable as it allowed us to not only create another revenue stream, but also turn waste into something beautiful. The automotive industry has a lot of work to do to reduce emissions, so we’re pleased to do our part by recycling unused products to produce something that will last.”

By Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset.

A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise.

Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.