Bridgnorth Aluminium invests £2 million in new technology after gaining 33% sales hike

Bridgnorth Aluminium, a leading manufacturer of flat-rolled aluminium coils, has invested a whopping 2 million Pounds(£) in technical advancement at its 66-acre Midlands site. The investment is part of a long-term growth plan targeting new markets.

Bridgnorth is yet another entity affected by the UK's energy price hike in 2023. The company also lost a major customer when it decided to shift its production from Europe to China. However, the company had a successful comeback, with a 33 per cent sales increase in the ongoing fiscal year.

Bridgnorth flat-rolled aluminium coils are used in pharma and household foils for packaging, lithographic printing plates, and battery foil stocks for electrification.

Gerhard Trilling, General Manager of Bridgnorth Aluminium, said the 2024 order book was emphatic and the direction towards restructuration and targeting new markets in EV technology and packaging is already proving successful. He emphasised, "We expected our Bridgnorth workforce to total around 305 at this point in the year, but we're already at 330, with more jobs being created now for additional production operatives plus support roles in engineering and other disciplines. The investment in casthouse technology will support our growing order book in the EV market and packaging, and we are positioning ourselves to support the growing demand for aluminium products in battery technology and in electrification."

A part of the 1.6 million Pound investment is for molten metal filtration equipment, which will be deployed before the casting process and will support the company's increase in its share of new and growing markets.

Adam Hunter, Deputy General Manager, added, "The leading-edge technology will give Bridgnorth Aluminium cleaner metal in the casting process. This is really important for the battery foil market as well as high-end packaging."

Bridgnorth Aluminium, a 90-year-old name with an employee strength of 330, will continue with its core business in lithographic printing for companies across the globe, with 90% of its products exported outside of the UK.