Bridgnorth’s £2m tech transition: "We're a key link in the supply chain for electric vehicles and renewables” shares DGM

Bridgnorth Aluminium Limited, a leading name in the United Kingdom’s aluminium rolled products segment, came into the news for its whopping 2 million Pounds(£) in technical advancement at its 66-acre facility. The investment announcement initially came in October 2024. The company is the singular fully integrated aluminium rolling plant in the UK and employs 330 people in the county. Adam Hunter, Deputy General Manager of the company, has asserted that aluminium is key to the country’s clean energy transition, primarily in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and defence systems.

Image Source: https://bridgnorthaluminium.co.uk/

He shared, “We are a key link in the supply chain for battery foil for the EV market, more of which will be required by the new gigafactories established or being built in Britain and Europe. Bridgnorth Aluminium is a major exporter of aluminium rolled products, and we invest in green initiatives, including reducing our carbon footprint through recycling and reusing waste heat.

The investment is a momentous leap from the company’s traditional business in lithographic printing to the evolved key player in the UK’s clean energy transition and electrification ambitions.

He also conveyed about the investment front, “Our new £2m investment in leading-edge technology will give us cleaner metal in the casting process. This is really important for the battery foil market as well as high-end packaging.”

The manufacturer plays a vital part in backing the regional financial development. The organisation creates essential job opportunities throughout Shropshire and the West Midlands and is dedicated to nurturing local talent through educational partnerships and apprenticeship programs. 

By collaborating with prominent research institutions such as the Warwick Manufacturing Group, the Advanced Propulsion Centre, and the universities of Birmingham and Brunel, the business remains at the forefront of materials science and low-carbon manufacturing technologies. This engagement is vital for maintaining a competitive advantage in global markets.

“Our core business remains in material for printing for companies across the globe, with 90 per cent of our products exported outside of the UK,” added Adam, “We have a dedicated research and development department, and our production capabilities span casting, hot/cold rolling, heat treatment, slitting, levelling and degreasing.

“Our resilience and adaptability have already been shown, having successfully restructured and diversified our markets in response to challenges faced in 2023, including rising UK energy prices. This strategy has paid dividends, with a 33 per cent increase in sales during 2024, and we are ahead of our recovery plan and creating new jobs,” said the DGM.

The flat-rolled product manufacturer 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 previous fiscal year (2024). The company-produced flat-rolled aluminium coils are used in pharma and household foils for packaging, lithographic printing plates, and battery foil stocks for electrification.

As part of the global Viohalco Group, which operates in eight countries and serves 95 nations worldwide, Bridgnorth Aluminium’s investment in Shropshire demonstrates a significant commitment to both regional manufacturing excellence and the broader industrial strategy of the UK.

Adam ended his message with an insight into the economy weighing in on their business, “There are headwinds from external economic factors such as uncertainty over tariffs in the US market under a new administration and new legislation around carbon reporting and taxation. We’re talking to the Department of Business and Trade about these challenges and have responded to the consultation on the new industrial strategy due to be published this year.”