Sheffield Forgemasters, a key supplier in the UK’s defence sector, has entered into a significant contract with Dewsbury-based Northern Combustion Systems (NCS) as part of a larger recapitalisation programme.
NCS will supply two Top-Hat Furnaces, designed to enhance Sheffield Forgemasters’ capabilities in producing critical components for the UK’s SSN-AUKUS submarine programme and other major defence initiatives.
Craig Fisher, Programmes Director at Sheffield Forgemasters, praised the partnership: “Northern Combustion Systems has 40 years of experience in industrial furnace manufacture and are providing Sheffield Forgemasters with two new high-efficient recuperative and modulating Top Hat furnaces.”
He highlighted the significance of these furnaces for Sheffield’s forging programme, explaining that the largest furnace will also feature an integral quench tank, designed to handle long forgings, while the smaller one will focus on ingot and bar heat treatments.
The installation of the furnaces is planned for October 2025 and April 2027, marking a key milestone in the company’s investment in creating new facilities for defence-specific forgings and castings. The furnaces, measuring 30m and 11m in length respectively, will operate alongside Sheffield Forgemasters’ existing seven larger furnaces, boosting the company’s production capacity.
NCS secured the contract after a robust tender process, with their bespoke designs featuring hydraulic lifts and traverse covers, showcasing their expertise in industrial furnace solutions.
If anyone is interested to get an insight into “some” of what SFM does and why it was uniquely Nationalised by a Conservative Government, have a look at their website.
To many people just continuously knock UK industry, but when we get it right and have the resources to thrive we get it very right.
For example a few years ago Nordstream wanted a way to repair or reinforce leaky underwater gas pipes. Only company that could do it was SFM, they basically cast, machined and split a huge pipe clamp.
In past days this company would have been allowed to go under. But with the right support it shows how these companies can thrive, sadly too often Govts just threw money at businesses like BL to save politically sensitive jobs without ever creating or insisting upon the fundamentals to succeed in the future as the French did with Renault. Then sadly we had a Thatcher Govt that simply closed no matter what, to add to the greater problem, she would have let SF go I fear. But this is a vital company and its recent innovations in welding Nuclear Pressure Vessels promises much and shows potential we lost so much of in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
There is definitely a balance. For example, Reaction engines and others with clearly amazing nationally important products should be supported through their growing pains. However the uk was the sick man of Europe with out of control unions ruining our manufacturers and holding the country to ransom in the 70’s/80’s. Thatcher didn’t get it 100% but she put the unions back in their box and got rid of the dead wood sucking the country dry.
Excuse me?
One example
Vickers had some 30,000 jobs in around the yard at Barrow in Furness – Thatcher took it down to 3.5K.
In a town of 70,000, it smashed the town for many years and even today – critical infrastructure has also been lost – there is no rail connection to the yard; a yard building 9K and 16K tn submarines – all comes via the A590, happy days.
And there was no strategic thought in a BR starved of funds. Salthouse junct still runs to the BNFL site but the line actually ran through the original Barrow by the docks and passed Devonshire Hall to rejoin the main line near Ormsgill. Today, that line could have closed an incredibly poorly situated Barrow station and served not only the shipyard but also the university. Instead, cars rule supreme.
I’m less than admiring of Thatcher.
I remember it well
Absolutely awesome company and capability on matched by Nippon steel. As somebody who played a (very small) part in helping save this company during its cash flow woes earlier in the century, I am so pleased for them. Go Forgemasters!
numbers v cost? won’t 5 holding my breath.
Good news, key capability.
Is this company running at a profit or a loss? What was the reason it was nationalised?
I saw some steel companies appear to be asking for massive sums of money every year or so. Last week it £500+m for something or other.
It was nationalized largely to stop it falling into the wrong hands and allow the government to go ahead with AUKUS and support the RR small reactor proposal.
They were losing money and the MOD leaned on BAE and Babcock to give then cheap loans to keep them afloat. that didn’t work, so the MOD stepped in
Some things are essential. Nearly all government departments run at a loss but are seen as essential for the country
Although Forgies has the ability to melt bulk steel (and it does), it’s real speciality is the the forging/casting and machining of oversize components, It did (I don’t know if it still does) hold the record for the single pour casting which was in the region of 600 tonnes.
more than we got from the astute programme. but I doubt it
Another boost for the east end of Sheffield 👍
I think it was announced today, that as part of the new Defence Agreement between Germany & the UK, that Forge Masters will be supplying the steel to be used when the UK (re)starts making artillery gun tubes in a couple of years