Sheffield Forgemasters

Sheffield Forgemasters traces its origins to a 1750s blacksmith forge, and then Naylor Vickers and Co. founded by George Naylor and Edward Vickers,{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/about-us/ |website=Sheffield Forgemasters |access-date=1 April 2021}} the predecessor of Vickers Limited.{{citation needed |date=April 2021}} Vickers built the River Don Works in 1865.{{cite web |title=History: 19th century |url=https://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/sfm/company-structure/history/1800s |website=Sheffield Forgemasters |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511041032/https://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/sfm/company-structure/history/1900s |archive-date=11 May 2016}} In 1983, the River Don Works, then part of state-owned British Steel, merged with Firth Brown Steels to create Sheffield Forgemasters.{{cite web |title=History: 20th century |url=https://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/sfm/company-structure/history/1900s |website=Sheffield Forgemasters |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511041032/https://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/sfm/company-structure/history/1900s |archive-date=11 May 2016}}

During the 1980s, Forgemasters was one of several British companies that manufactured components destined for the Iraqi Project Babylon "supergun", which it had believed were for a petrochemical refinery. The resulting government investigation exonerated the company's directors of wrongdoing;{{cite web |last1=Tomlinson |first1=Heather |title=You're Fired! |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/you-re-fired-137996.html |website=The Independent |date=5 January 2003 |access-date=1 April 2021}} the incident became known as the Supergun affair.

In mid-1997, Forgemasters announced a plan to demerging its aerospace and engineering divisions into two separate companies; this move was stated to be in preparation for their flotation.{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/two-us-companies-target-sheffield-forgemasters-1138419.html |title = Two US companies target Sheffield Forgemasters |publisher = The Independent |first = Andrew |last = Yates |date = 13 January 1998}} During the following year, the company was not only divided but sold to two separate American companies. Allegheny Teledyne acquired the aerospace business,{{cite web |url = https://content.edgar-online.com/ExternalLink/EDGAR/0000950128-99-000587.html?hash=f434604c39d1b5297cfdab893c58b4866a87320e5d31d08321b6c832420cd5cd |title = Allegheny Teledyne Incorporated |publisher = Securities and Exchange Commission |year = 1999}} while Atchison Casting Corp bought the River Don and Rolls businesses; it was the latter that retained the Sheffield Forgemasters name. Over the following four years, Atchison invested $64 million (£39 million) in improving the firm's technology and equipment.

During 1999, the firm started to supply rolled steel to the Russian steel company Severstal; by the mid-2010s, Forgemasters was reportedly supplying three-quarters of Severstal's demand for this product.{{cite web |url = https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/421819-contract-wins-with-russian-giant-continue-to-roll-for-forgemasters |title = Contract wins with Russian giant continue to roll for Forgemasters |website = thebusinessdesk.com |date = 22 January 2013}}{{cite web |url = https://www.insidermedia.com/news/yorkshire/sheffield-forgemasters-secures-multimillion-pound-deals |title = Multimillion-pound contract wins for Sheffield Forgemasters |website = insidermedia.com |first = Karishma |last = Patel |date = 24 August 2016}}

During 2002, amid poor economic conditions, Forgemasters was reportedly to be approaching liquidation. One year later, American parent company Atchison went bankrupt, leading to its acquisition by the investment firm KPS later that same year.{{cite web |title=Atchison's Foundry Sell-Off Complete |url=https://www.foundrymag.com/uncategorized/article/21926626/atchisons-foundry-selloff-complete |website=Foundry Management & Technology |date=22 December 2003 |access-date=1 April 2021}} During 2005, Graham Honeyman led a successful effort to buy Forgemasters, after which Honeyman became the company's chief executive{{cite web |title=New CEO in Place at Sheffield Forgemasters |url=https://www.forgingmagazine.com/forming/article/21924203/new-ceo-in-place-at-sheffield-forgemasters |website=Forging |date=31 July 2018 |access-date=1 April 2021}} as well as its majority shareholder.{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/uk-industrial-giants-push-for-sheffield-forgemasters-overhaul-11293462 |title=UK industrial giants push for Sheffield Forgemasters overhaul |last=Kleinman |first=Mark |publisher=Sky News |date=17 March 2018 |access-date=17 March 2018}}

Amid severe flooding in the summer of 2007, Forgemasters experienced a work stoppage after its works were inundated by the River Don. Three weeks after the event, repairs were ahead of schedule and the works were approaching full production.{{cite news |url=http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/business/Forgemasters-back-with-39never-again39.3043910.jp |title=Forgemasters back with 'never again' warning |work=Sheffield Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214085526/http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/business/local-business/forgemasters_back_with_never_again_warning_1_441732 |archive-date=14 February 2012 |date=14 February 2012}}{{cite web |url = https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/environment/a-decade-after-the-deluge-aps20m-floods-scheme-opens-in-sheffield-1764364 |title = A decade after the deluge, £20m floods scheme opens in Sheffield |website = yorkshirepost.co.uk |date = 25 January 2018}}

In the late 2000s, Forgemasters launched an effort to acquire a 15,000 tonne forging press for manufacturing ultra-large civil nuclear components. By March 2010, the company had secured £140 million in funding over two years,{{cite web |title=Forgemasters place UK at forefront of nuclear power manufacturing |url=http://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/news/2010/03/forgemasters-place-uk-at-forefront-of-nuclear-power-manufacturing |website=Sheffield Forgemasters |date=17 March 2010 |access-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323002043/http://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/news/2010/03/forgemasters-place-uk-at-forefront-of-nuclear-power-manufacturing |archive-date=23 March 2010}} which included an £80 million loan from the British government. Plans to acquire the press were ultimately suspended. The government loan was cancelled in June 2010 with a change of government.{{cite web |title=Sheffield Forgemasters' £80m nuclear parts loan axed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-10704471 |publisher=BBC News |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=1 April 2021}}{{cite web |url = https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/government-cancels-forgemasters-nuclear-press-loan/ |title = Government cancels Forgemasters' nuclear press loan |website = theengineer.co.uk |date = 17 June 2010}} One year later, Forgemasters declined to apply for a new loan as foreign competitors were already building such presses while the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster had caused uncertainty in the civil nuclear market.{{cite web |title=Forgemasters to put on hold nuclear plans |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/forgemasters-put-hold-nuclear-plans-1934688 |website=The Yorkshire Post |date=21 April 2011 |access-date=1 April 2021}}

Throughout the 2010s, Forgemasters was involved in numerous maritime projects. In May 2014, the firm joined the Wales Tidal Industry Advisory Group, which sought to realise the commercial benefits of the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.{{cite web |url = https://www.offshore-energy.biz/uk-industry-works-to-maximise-tidal-lagoon-potential/ |title = UK Industry Works to Maximise Tidal Lagoon Potential |website = offshore-energy.biz |date = 12 May 2014}} In mid 2017, Vulcan SFM (Forgemasters' offshore division) was awarded a £5.5 million contract by Samsung Heavy Industries to produce 73 steel castings for a semi-submersible oil platform.{{cite web |url = https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/advanced-manufacturing/sheffield-forgemasters-awarded-55m-for-offshore-steel-castings/ |title = Sheffield Forgemasters awarded £5.5m for offshore steel castings |website = theengineer.co.uk |date = 4 July 2017}} Furthermore, Forgemasters produced components, such as subsea emergency repair clamp bodies, for use on Nord Stream 1, the world’s longest subsea gas pipeline.{{cite web |url = https://www.offshore-energy.biz/sheffield-forgemasters-delivers-nord-stream-pipeline-clamps/ |title = Sheffield Forgemasters Delivers Nord Stream Pipeline Clamps |website = offshore-energy.biz |date = 16 June 2016}}{{cite web |url = https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/another-world-record-for-sheffield-forgemasters/ |title = Another world record for Sheffield Forgemasters |website = themanufacturer.com |date = 15 June 2016 |first = Jonny |last = Williamson}}

Along with the decline of the wider British steel industry throughout the 2010s, Forgemasters was no exception to this trend. The firm reported its first operating loss, of £9.4 million, since separating from Atchison in the 14 months leading to December 2014. During January 2016, the company announced plans to reduce its workforce from 800 to 700.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/20/sheffield-forgemasters-cut-100-jobs-steel-industry-decline-continues |title=Sheffield Forgemasters to cut up to 100 jobs as steel industry decline continues |date=19 January 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=20 January 2016}} The company's financial health attracted attention due to its involvement in Britain's nuclear submarine programme.

During 2016, Forgemasters obtained a £30 million loan from the American bank Wells Fargo. The loan was underwritten by nuclear submarine contractors BAE Systems, Babcock International and Rolls-Royce Marine Power, in an arrangement negotiated by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD); the intervention forestalled Chinese investment and control in the company. In March 2018, the arrangement was due to expire in July 2019; Sky News reported that the underwriters were seeking a replacement to Honeyman, possibly as a precondition for renewal. In July 2018, Honeyman was replaced as Forgemasters' chief executive by David Bond, formerly of BAE Systems.

In December 2020, Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Forgemasters were in preliminary talks for the nationalisation of the company.{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/defence-chiefs-plot-move-to-take-control-of-nuclear-sub-steelmaker-12151847 |title=Defence chiefs plot move to take control of nuclear sub steelmaker |last=Kleinman |first=Mark |publisher=Sky News |date=6 December 2020 |access-date=1 April 2021}} In July 2021, the UK government announced that the MoD had launched an offer to take over the company for £2.56 million, and intended to invest a further £400 million over the next decade to support defence outputs. Investment was to reportedly include a new heavy forge line and flood alleviation measures. The existing senior management continued to run the company alongside two new non-executive directors.{{cite web |title=UK Government to acquire Sheffield Forgemasters International Limited |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-to-acquire-sheffield-forgemasters-international-limited |access-date=28 July 2021 |website=GOV.UK}}{{cite news |url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsuk-defence-ministry-takes-over-sheffield-forgemasters-8946100 |title=UK Defence Ministry takes over Sheffield Forgemasters |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |date=29 July 2021 |access-date=30 July 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/28/sheffield-forgemasters-nationalised-after-takeover-ministry-of-defence |title=Sheffield Forgemasters nationalised after £2.6m takeover by MoD |first=Jasper |last=Jolly |date=28 July 2021 |access-date=20 July 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian}} At the time, the long term intention of the British government was to eventually privatise Forgemasters; no timeframe has been specified for this.{{cite web |url = https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/012471-Lessons-learned-Monitoring-and-responding-to-companies-in-distress.pdf |title = Lessons learned: Monitoring and responding to companies in distress |publisher = National Audit Office |date = 27 October 2023}}

During March 2022, the British government instructed Forgemasters to end its supply contract with the Russian energy firm Gazprom as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The company had already stopped any sales business with Russia by that date.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/13/sheffield-forgemasters-ends-contract-with-gazprom-russia |title=Defence firm Sheffield Forgemasters told to end contract with Gazprom |first=Julia |last=Kollewe |date=13 March 2022 |access-date=20 July 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian}}{{cite news |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/03/12/nuclear-submarine-supplier-ordered-axe-contract-gazprom/ |title = Nuclear submarine supplier ordered to axe contract with Gazprom |newspaper = The Telegraph |first = Helen |last = Cahill |date = 12 March 2022}} Later that same year, Forgemasters commenced the fabrication of an at-scale fusion vessel trial ring for a demonstration machine for General Fusion.{{cite web |url = https://www.machinery.co.uk/content/news/sheffield-forgemasters-plays-pivotal-role-to-advance-fusion-energy-development/ |title = Sheffield Forgemasters plays pivotal role to advance fusion energy development |website = machinery.co.uk |date = 3 November 2022}}

In July 2024, the MOD announced that it would revived the ability to produce forgings for large caliber gun barrels in collaboration with Sheffield Forgemasters.{{cite web |url = https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-rebuilding-ability-to-manufacture-large-calibre-guns/ |title = Britain rebuilding ability to manufacture large-calibre guns |website = ukdefencejournal.org.uk |first = George |last = Allison |date = 21 July 2024}}{{cite web |url = https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/sheffield-forgemasters-to-produce-steel-for-first-domestic-artillery-factory-in-decade-4836696 |title = Sheffield Forgemasters to produce steel for first domestic artillery factory in decade |website = yorkshirepost.co.uk |first = Danielle |last = Andrews |date = 23 October 2024}} In a separate announcement, the MoD revealed an arrangement with Forgemasters to repair Ukrainian vehicles.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.perspectivemedia.com/zelensky-meets-uk-arms-industry-to-secure-support-for-ukraine/ |title=Zelensky meets UK arms industry to secure support for Ukraine |magazine=Perspective Magazine |date=18 July 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024}} That same month, newly-installed Secretary for Defence John Healey toured the Forgemasters plant with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in the framework of the AUKUS partnership.{{cite web |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/news/uk-reaffirms-aukus-partnership-at-sheffield-forgemasters/ |title=UK reaffirms AUKUS partnership at Sheffield Forgemasters |first=Andrew |last=Salerno-Garthwaite |date=17 July 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024}} In January 2025, the British government awarded a contract to the defence firm BAE Systems to produce artillery barrels for Ukraine; BAE has stated their intention to work with Sheffield Forgemasters to produce the barrel forgings.{{cite web |url = https://www.thestar.co.uk/business/sheffield-forgemasters-ps61m-contract-for-bae-systems-to-make-artillery-barrels-in-sheffield-for-ukraine-4948620 |title = Sheffield Forgemasters: £61m contract for BAE Systems to make artillery barrels in Sheffield for Ukraine |first = Robert |last = Cumber |website = thestar.co.uk |date = 18 January 2025}}{{cite web |url = https://www.kyivpost.com/post/45985 |title = UK Contracts Arms Makers to Make Artillery Barrels for Ukraine |publisher = Kyiv Post |date = 24 January 2025}}

The company specialises in forged and cast steel components for the defence, engineering, nuclear, offshore, petrochemical and steel processing industries worldwide.

The company received the American Society of Mechanical Engineers N-stamp accreditation for critical nuclear components in 1992, having produced major components for the {{sclass|Astute|submarine|1}}s and the civil nuclear industry, including Sizewell B, the UK's only pressurised water reactor.{{cite news |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_Forgemasters_to_pump_up_capabilities_0309087.html |title= Forgemasters to pump up capabilities? |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=3 September 2008 |access-date=24 June 2010}}{{cite news |url=http://www.theengineer.co.uk/power-struggle-developing-the-uks-nuclear-manufacturing-capacity/ |title=Power struggle: developing the UK's nuclear manufacturing capacity |first=Stuart |last=Nathan |publisher=The Engineer |date=22 October 2013 |access-date=12 March 2016}} The accreditation lapsed some years later, with the lack of nuclear work. In 2023, the company was reportedly working to regain ASME status for heavy forgings and castings to the civil nuclear market and to position itself for anticipated expansion of civil nuclear capacity in the UK.{{cite news |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Shefield-Forgemasters-aims-to-regain-key-nuclear-a |title=Sheffield Forgemasters set to regain key nuclear accreditation |website=World Nuclear News |date=11 December 2023 |access-date=12 December 2023}} During mid 2020s, Forgemasters started using a new electron beam-based welding process that reduced the timescale involved in the construction of compact nuclear reactors from 150 days to two hours.{{cite web |url = https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/12/20191216-sf.html |title = Sheffield Forgemasters leads $14M project to industrialize electron beam welding for nuclear reactors; SMR application |website = greencarcongress.com |date = 16 December 2019}}{{cite web |url = https://www.thetimes.com/article/revolutionary-welding-method-cuts-time-to-make-mini-nuclear-reactors-7f9239lrv |title = Welding method drastically cuts time to make mini nuclear reactors |publisher = The Times |first = Emma |last = Powell |date = 12 February 2024 }}

Sheffield Forgemasters currently has the capacity for pouring the largest single casting (570 tonnes) in Europe. The two forging presses in use can exert a pressure of 4,500 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes on a billet of steel. The 4,500 tonne press was installed in 2010 to replace a 1,500 tonne press which dated back to 1897 and was originally steam powered, and after several upgrades became hydraulically operated.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|https://sheffieldforgemasters.com}}

{{Sheffield companies|state=collapsed}}

{{Steel plants in the United Kingdom}}

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1805

Category:Engineering companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Sheffield

Category:Steel companies of the United Kingdom

Category:1805 establishments in England

Category:British companies established in 1805

Category:Government-owned companies of the United Kingdom