The investment, named “Project Vulcan,” marks a major milestone for SMP and is expected to make a significant contribution to the UK’s specialty metals production capacity.
Project Vulcan forms a key part of SMP’s long-term strategy to advance the UK’s capabilities in specialty metal manufacturing, secure critical supply chains, and strengthen national production capacity. With the new forging press, the company will be able to manufacture high-integrity steels, superalloys, and advanced components for highly regulated and critical sectors such as aerospace, energy, and civil nuclear.
Despite ongoing challenges in the sector, SMP continues to demonstrate the competitiveness of the UK metals industry through innovation and advanced manufacturing technologies. The investment aims to further enhance product safety, durability, and quality standards. Expanding domestic forging capacity will help reduce the UK’s reliance on imports in strategic sectors while supporting global demand for high-performance materials.
SMP is among the world’s leading suppliers of alloys used in main jet engine shafts and other critical rotating components.
Commenting on the agreement, Andy Richardson, CEO and Managing Director of SMP, said that Project Vulcan represents a significant step forward both for the company and for the UK specialty metals industry.
“The new forging press will strengthen our manufacturing capabilities while supporting both domestic and international supply chains. It will also enable us to create highly skilled jobs in the region and preserve critical capabilities required for advanced manufacturing,” he said.
Richardson added that the investment will allow SMP to continue supplying critical materials for aerospace, nuclear, and other high-precision sectors, further reinforcing the company’s global leadership from its Sheffield base.
The new forging press, to be supplied by Danieli Breda, is regarded as a major investment in the future of advanced metal production in the UK and is expected to further strengthen SMP’s position in the global high-performance materials market.
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