News

UK - Investment positions foundry for further growth.

Issued at 2012-08-21



A £250,000 investment programme is enabling a UK steel foundry to increase its capacity offering new fast-track services to its customers.

Financed from the company’s own reserves, the investment at Bonds Precision Castings (BPC) in Alston is funding new equipment including an additional furnace capable of melting 109kg of steel in 35 minutes and a 6 x 3m oven capable of heating moulds up to 1000°C before the molten steel is poured into them.   

Supplied by Inductotherm, the 125MW Power-Trak furnace is a state-of-the-art design giving efficiencies in electrical usage. Foundry Machinery and Spares designed the bespoke gas-fired oven which will reduce BPC gas consumption.

In the last three months, BPC has increased its workforce by 30% creating 20 new full-time, permanent jobs in the heart of Cumbria’s rural community which enhances BPC’s status as the largest employer within a 20-mile radius of Alston.

BPC specialises in the production of high integrity castings for the pump industry and, with the strong growth in the international oil and gas sector, customers are increasingly demanding short lead times for impeller and diffuser castings which they urgently require to repair broken pumps.

The investment will enable BPC to offer customers an exciting new premium-priced, fast-track service for these products. 

The increased capacity has also led to BPC expanding into the Japanese market having received an order for impellers from a large Japanese pump manufacturer.

Bonds Precision Castings managing director, Andrew Dodd, said: “We’re very excited about the opportunities this new investment gives Bonds Precision Castings for further organic growth. Our team of almost 90 people making and selling castings has proven they have the manufacturing skills to produce high quality castings for a competitive international marketplace.”

 


Source: Foundry Trade Journal



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