Indica Automotive is a specialist in technical foam solutions. They design and produce bespoke products ranging from simple acoustic dampeners to speciality foams and composites available for use in almost any industry. Here we talk to John Brogden, Projects and Development Manager, about life on the estate, the importance of reputation and why they will soon be needing even more space for their expanding operation.
Our 17 strong team here at Brackmills, design and manufacture bespoke products for the likes Jaguar Land Rover, Lotus and JCB. Whilst our 1250 staff across our international sites in Europe, India and North America, design and manufacture products for a wide range of applications and industries including automotive, water & air filtration, sound dampening & blocking, sealing and medical.
I have over 35 years of experience in the automotive industry and have been working here at Indica since 2021. My specialism is acoustic and thermal management systems – heating and cooling solutions and also down to stopping the squeaks and rattles in your car. Something that the advent of electric cars has made even more complex….because they are so quiet!
It’s all about reputation and delivery
In our operation here, we have seen steady growth in recent years. Whilst we don’t have retained contracts with our customers, our reputation for design, accuracy and speed ensures our competitive edge when it comes to tendering. Plus, these days there is a great deal of emphasis on your environmental and sustainability credentials when customers are choosing a supplier, not least because of the tax implications for their businesses. So, it is vital that we continue to innovate in terms of renewables and green products and processes.
Plans to expand
With the post-Covid increase in car production and the Government extending the deadline for the mandatory introduction of electric vehicles, we are forecasting a significant increase in our workload. From October 2024 we will need to start ramping up to deliver new projects that are in the pipeline, which will require growth of both our team and our facilities. Into 2025 we will looking to expand further and invest in new machinery and additional personnel.
We have been based here on the estate since 2017, we have a good management team, with many years of experience and have always found it quite easy to recruit and retain good, local staff. So, for that reason, and the fact that it is a nice place to be, we would like to stay on the estate. I am hoping that we will be able to find a bigger or perhaps an additional site to suit our needs.
Doing your bit
Plus, Indica are also a big supporters of the Brackmills BID and the work the team do. Unlike other local estates, such as Moulton Park, we are very lucky to have the BID team looking after our security, cleanliness, safety and I’m sure much more besides. We like to get involved where we can, attending the forums and events, which are very useful and informative. I think more businesses should actively engage with the BID – after all, it’s for the greater good of everyone that works here.
