Sheffield Forgemasters
 | |
| Company type | Limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Engineering |
| Founded | 1805 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Graham Honeyman (CEO) Neil Maskrey (CFO) |
| Products | Steel forgings Steel castings Steel ingot and bar Offshore structures |
| Services | Bespoke heavy engineering |
| Website | www.sheffieldforgemasters.com |
Sheffield Forgemasters International (commonly called just Forgemasters or Sheffield Forgemasters) is a heavy engineering firm located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The company specialises in the production of large bespoke steel castings and forgings, as well as standard rolls, ingots and bar.
History
The company was established in 1983 from the merger of Firth Brown and British Steel's River Don Works Forging operations, as a public company.[1] Their buildings now dominate the Brightside area of East Sheffield. The company can trace its heritage back to the start of the steel industry in Sheffield in the 18th century. The firms of Vickers, Cammells, and Armstrong-Whitworth were all Nationalised to form British Steel in the 1960s.
The company has had a chequered history due to the cyclical demand for specialist forgings and castings. In 2005 it was the subject of a management buy out.
On 16 June 2010, a worker was killed at Forgemasters in an industrial accident.[2]
Capabilities
The company specialises in forged and cast parts for suppliers to the engineering, nuclear, oil, petrochemical, and process industries worldwide.
The company has the American Society of Mechanical Engineers N-stamp accreditation for critical nuclear components, having produced major components for the Astute class submarines and the civil nuclear industry, including Sizewell B, the UK's only pressurised water reactor.[3]
Sheffield Forgemasters currently has the capacity for pouring the largest single ingot (570 tonnes) in Europe. The two forging presses in use can exert a pressure of 2,500 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes on a billet of steel. The 2,500 ton press dates back to 1897 and was originally steam powered, and after several upgrades is now hydraulically operated.
2007 Sheffield floods
The company was severely affected by the 2007 Sheffield floods, when the nearby River Don flooded the works with several feet of water. But, after a clean up effort, Forgemasters back in action, within weeks of the devastation.[4]
2010 expansion
Due to increasing demand for their specialist services, in 2010 the firm commissioned a new 4,000 ton forging press, with plans to increase the range of forgings they can supply.[5]
On 17 March 2010, Lord Mandelson announced that the UK Government would loan the company £80 million towards the design and building of a new 15,000 ton forging press (together with other investors).[6][7] The press, intended to give Forgemasters the ability to manufacture ultra-large forgings for the nuclear power industry, would allow the UK to use home-manufactured components during the building of proposed new nuclear power plants in the country. As of 2010, there was only one other manufacturer in the world, Japan Steel Works, with the adequate presses and certification able to manufacture the required ultra-large forgings.[8]
Following the United Kingdom general election, 2010, held on 6 May, the new Government announced a Treasury review of all Government decisions on funding since 1 January,[9] aimed at reducing the country's budget deficit in response to the preceding financial crisis and concerns over sovereign debt, which led to a period of uncertainty about the expansion's future.[10] On 17 June 2010 Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced the cancellation of 12 projects totalling £2 billion agreed to by the previous Labour government,[11][12] including the £80 million loan to Sheffield Forgemasters.[13][14]
In an interview with BBC Radio Sheffield, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the Government may reconsider loaning the company money for expansion.[15]
On Monday 31 October 2011, the Goverenment announced new lending of up to £36m to the firm, as part of £950m of investment nationwide as part of the Regional Growth Fund. [16]
Role in Iraqi supergun scandal
On 11 April 1990, customs in Middlesbrough seized parts of what were believed to be parts of a massive 'supergun' on a ship bound for Iraq. It was revealed that parts of the gun had been manufactured by Forgemasters who stated that they had been told that the pipes were to be used in a petrochemical project.[17]
References
- ^ Sheffield Forgemasters International History: 20th century Sheffield Forgemasters International
- ^ Man killed in steelworks incident BBC News
- ^ "Forgemasters to pump up capabilities?". World Nuclear News. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ^ Forgemasters back with 'never again' warning Sheffield Telegraph
- ^ Sheffield Forgemasters invests £6m as demand soars Sheffield Telegraph
- ^ Forgemasters place UK at forefront of nuclear power manufacturing Sheffield Forgemasters International
- ^ Sheffield Forgemasters gets £80m state loan to make parts for nuclear industry The Daily Telegraph
- ^ Sheffield Forgemasters' nuclear ambition The Engineer
- ^ City's anxious wait for where axe falls Sheffield Telegraph
- ^ MP demands swift Government decision over Forgemasters money Sheffield Telegraph
- ^ Coalition government axes £2bn of projects BBC News
- ^ Transport and health projects halted as Government backs down on £10bn commitments The Daily Telegraph
- ^ Sheffield Forgemasters' £80m nuclear parts loan axed BBC News
- ^ Government axes Labour's 'breathtakingly cynical' £80m loan to Sheffield Forgemasters Yorkshire Post
- ^ Staff writer (17 December 2010). "Sheffield Forgemasters loan 'could be revisited' - Clegg". BBC News. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- ^ Clegg visits Forgemasters plant The Press Association
- ^ Exports by U.S. Aided Iraq 'Super Gun,' House Banking Chief Says The New York Times