British Steel’s Bold Investment to Lead Global Forklift Truck Industry
British Steel has unveiled a significant new £26-million service centre at its Special Profiles business in Skinningrove, marking a pivotal step towards enhancing its position as a global leader in supplying steel profiles to the forklift truck industry. The new manufacturing hub aims to address growing demand in the earth moving, construction, shipbuilding, mining, and forklift truck sectors, with a focus on producing both standard and bespoke forklift mast profiles.
This ambitious investment, which is the largest in the Special Profiles business in over 30 years, will not only boost production capacity but also set the company apart in terms of precision and product variety. The Skinningrove Service Centre is expected to substantially increase throughput within the next two years, opening doors to new market opportunities around the globe.
State-of-the-Art Facility Enhances Precision and Throughput
The Skinningrove Service Centre is equipped with advanced machinery designed to meet the demanding needs of the forklift truck industry. This includes four new CNC lathes for turning mill rolls, three automated bandsaws for cutting stock to precise lengths, and a cutting-edge laser measurement system to ensure process control of every bar rolled. Additionally, the facility boasts one of the largest and most precise 14-metre bed milling machines in the world, capable of producing profiles with tolerances as tight as 0.1mm—a level of precision few global competitors can match.
This advanced milling capability will be particularly beneficial for the high-reach forklift truck market, where the mast sections, which enable the forks to reach high shelves, require exceptional precision. Forklifts used in warehouses typically operate at heights of up to 8 meters, necessitating extremely tight tolerances to ensure the trucks function reliably and safely. British Steel’s new milling capabilities are positioned to meet these stringent requirements and further solidify its competitive edge in the global forklift truck sector.
Commitment to Growth and Global Market Expansion
Richard Napier, British Steel’s Sales Director for Special Profiles, highlighted that the investment demonstrates the company’s commitment to bolstering its position within UK manufacturing and expanding its footprint in global markets. "This new facility firmly establishes us as one of the world’s leading manufacturers and processors of value-added profiles for the forklift industry," he remarked.
Napier also emphasized the company’s ability to deliver custom-designed products tailored to the precise specifications of customers. With the new milling technology, British Steel will be able to meet even the most complex customer needs, offering an expanded range of forklift mast profiles with unmatched precision.
Harnessing Teesside’s Industrial Heritage for Future Growth
Located in the heart of Teesside, a region renowned for its rich industrial heritage, the Skinningrove Service Centre is built on a site with more than 150 years of operational history. The new facility represents not only a technological leap for British Steel but also a significant commitment to investing in the future of manufacturing in the UK. As British Steel continues to develop cutting-edge solutions for a variety of industries, it is poised to remain a key player in the steel sector for years to come.
Napier concluded with a note of optimism, stating, “Our superb new facility, and highly skilled colleagues, will help write another distinguished chapter in Skinningrove and British Steel history, ensuring we keep delivering market-leading products for many years to come.”
A Bright Future for British Steel and the Forklift Truck Industry
British Steel’s £26-million investment is a game-changer for both the company and the forklift truck industry, providing a new standard for precision and capacity. With this advanced manufacturing hub, British Steel is poised to expand its reach in global markets, offering top-tier forklift mast profiles and continuing its legacy of innovation in steel manufacturing. The Skinningrove Service Centre marks the beginning of a new era for British Steel as it leads the charge in the global forklift truck market.
