Category: News

In 1996 Straaltechniek UK started a miraculous 20-year journey from converted cow sheds on North Farm, Gildingwells owned by Graham Ward Now Chairman of the UK Group to a modern 20,000sq ft. Factory & Offices headed up by Andrew Allen Managing Director.

Continued growth in the Surface preparation industry forced a move in 2002 to North Anston Trading Estate near Sheffield and within 2 years Straaltechniek purchased a 5000-sq. ft. Unit at Valley Works Sheffield. The unit at Valley Works added craneage facilities to allow the refurbishment of Shot Blast machines as well as the manufacture of spare parts.

As demand for Straaltechniek products and services increased along with their first one-million-pound order from Marshalls Building Products PLC units 8 & 9 boasting 22,000 sq. ft. were added to the factory portfolio in 2006 to allow the company to manufacture NEW standard and large heavy duty machines.

The company started to outgrow its existing office facilities and in 2013 The Master Cutler of Sheffield opened a 2-story office block adjacent to the factory to house increased Engineering Applications, Sales, Finance, Production & Logistics personnel in a comfortable modern office environment.

2013 Two Storey Office Block Opened

The next and latest piece of the Straaltechniek UK ‘jig-saw’ is an additional 6000 sq. ft. building again opened in December 2016 by The Master Cutler of Sheffield along with Managing Director Andy Allen which now includes a new equipment Show Room, Meeting & Training Room, High Definition Plasma Cutting Bay, Painting Hall, Logistics Office & Consumable Stores.

December 2016 New Showroom  / Demo Facilities Including Stores, Painting Hall & High Definition Plasma Bay

Andy Allen (MD Straaltechniek UK) & Master Cutler 2016 Richard Edwards

A Sheffield firm which helps manufacture everything from radiators to jet engines is preparing for a big expansion.

Straaltechniek UK is a major cog in the nation’s metalworking industry, serving numerous blue chip clients in the rail, maritime and aerospace sectors, among other fields.

The engineering company has grown from humble beginnings operating out of converted cow sheds more than 20 years ago to employing more than 40 staff across its purpose-built HQ at Valley Works, on Grange Lane, in Shiregreen and its second site in the West Midlands.

It’s about to get even bigger, as it extends its offices in Sheffield, moves its machine shop to a larger unit and invests in new machinery and facilities, with work on the expansion set to begin in the next few weeks.

The firm is also setting up a new subcontracting facility within its factory, offering shot blasting and shot peening services.

To celebrate the expansion, bosses invited Sheffield’s Master Cutler Nicholas Cragg for a tour to learn more about the work they do.

Straaltechniek is involved in the ‘surface preparation’ of metals, which could involve anything from getting a truck’s bodywork ready for the paint to be applied to prepping brake pads so the rubber can be securely attached.

It provides the equipment for this crucial stage in the manufacturing process to some big hitters, which it is not at liberty to name, but current projects include supplying to companies making tank wheels and jet engines.

Managing director Andy Allen, who is also a Freeman of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, said: “It’s been a real honour and a privilege to have the Master Cutler visit us.

“Our company is going through some really exciting times at the moment and the future is looking very bright despite the uncertainty hanging over our country.

“We are very proud of everything we’ve achieved together as a team, collecting a long list of happy customer references along the way. I’ve always said that hard work and dedication will pay off.”

https://www.thestar.co.uk/business/sheffield-firm-helping-make-everything-from-jet-engines-to-tanks-set-to-expand-9695544https://www.thestar.co.uk/business/sheffield-firm-helping-make-everything-from-jet-engines-to-tanks-set-to-expand-1-9695544