News: Rotherham metal fabrication company fined

A Rotherham-based metal fabrication company has been sentenced after pleading guilty to health and safety failings that led to a young apprentice being injured by dangerous parts of a metal cutting guillotine during training.

On Friday 8 November 2024, a 17-year-old apprentice at MTL Advanced Ltd was cutting sheet metal in preparation for welding practice as part of their apprenticeship training. The guillotine was located within a dedicated Apprentice Training Workshop, where first-year apprentices learn and practise metal fabrication techniques before moving into the company’s main manufacturing areas in their second and third years.

The apprentice made several successful cuts, but on the final cut their thumb came into contact with the machine’s clamps, causing a crush injury.

The HSE launched an investigation and identified, from documents provided by the company before an on-site visit, that a large gap in the bed of the guillotine was allowing access to dangerous parts of the machinery. Critically, the company had failed to identify this risk even after the incident had taken place.

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A Prohibition Notice was served remotely by HSE to control the ongoing risk. Following its service, HSE Inspectors attended the site and identified further issues with the guillotine requiring immediate remedy.

The company was fined £140,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £5,013, with a Victim Surcharge of £2,000, at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court.

Speaking after the hearing, HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety Chris Tilley said: “Young people and apprentices are at the beginning of their career and so when it comes to workplace risks, employers must take particular care to assess those risks and fulfil their duty to keep them safe. Had this machinery been effectively guarded, this injury would never have happened.”

Part of the WEC Group, MTL's Training Academy opened in 2015 and has played a vital role in developing skilled engineers for the future.

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News: Rotherham Hospice appoints new ambassadors

Four leading local figures have joined Rotherham Hospice as ambassadors.

Phil Smith, Scott Thorpe, Jamie Sharp and Allie Dransfield are helping the hospice on Broom Road raise awareness, inspire fundraising and keep hospice care firmly in the heart of our community.

As an independent charity, Rotherham Hospice relies on community support to continue providing personalised, compassionate end of life care. It costs £10.2m each year to run our services. Just 37% of that is funded, meaning it must raise £6.6m every year to continue supporting local people.

Rotherham-born and raised, Phil Smith has built an internationally successful career in banking, investment management and technology. Recently appointed Independent Non-Executive Director at Rotherham United, Phil has long been a passionate supporter of both the football club and the town it represents.

His connection to the hospice, however, is deeply personal.

“I’ve had three family members come through the hospice over the last 20 years,” Phil said. “Every single time, they did something for the family that was quite important.

“I think treating people in palliative care is probably the most important thing you can do in society. It’s not just about the person in care, it’s about the family around them who are feeling the grief and loss. There’s nothing else that could beat it.”

Scott Thorpe, CEO of TMG Mortgage Network, has already demonstrated his commitment to the hospice through transformative partnerships — including gifting the naming rights of Parkgate FC’s ground to create the Rotherham Hospice Community Stadium.

A proud Rotherham lad, Scott sees the role as a natural extension of his community work.

“It’s about giving back,” he said. “We’ve had staff who’ve been through the hospice experience. It means everything to the town. We’ve all got to look after the families and people around us.”

Beyond fundraising, Scott hopes to use his business expertise to support the hospice’s long-term sustainability. “Raise loads of money, but ultimately awareness — and how we in business can help guide the way the hospice raises money.”

Jamie Sharp, Business Manager at MTL Advanced, has supported Rotherham Hospice for many years through corporate partnerships and hands-on community projects.

Most recently, MTL Advanced apprentices manufactured hundreds of steel feathers for the hospice’s Feather Appeal at Wentworth Woodhouse — demonstrating the power of skills, craftsmanship and compassion working together.

“I was fortunate not to have a personal connection through loss at first — it was through business,” Jamie explained. “But once you understand what the hospice is about and how it supports families, you just carry on helping.”

For Jamie, the ambassador role is also about education and legacy. “It’s been great getting younger apprentices involved and helping them understand what a hospice is and does. Through the company, we want to continue generating revenue and media exposure to support the hospice.”

Allie is head of agency at Chapter II – a leading PR, marketing, design and videography agency based in Sheffield.

Born and raised in Rotherham, Allie’s connection to the hospice runs deep. From fundraising as a young dancer in annual shows organised by her dance teacher, Miss Wendy Hewitt, to supporting the hospice lottery through her family, the charity has always been part of her life.

Allie said: “I am truly honoured to become an ambassador. As someone born and raised in the town, and a long-standing supporter of the hospice, this charity means a great deal to me personally.

"Having seen first-hand the incredible difference the hospice makes within our community, I am proud to use my voice to help raise awareness, champion its fundraising efforts, and ensure it can continue delivering its vital work across Rotherham for generations to come.”

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News: Rotherham firms receive royal visits

Two Rotherham-based companies had the honour of a royal visit recently when Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was in the region.

Last month, Princess Anne visited MTL Advanced in Brinsworth, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Professor Dame Hilary Chapman.

The firm, which operates a 387,000 sq ft facility, has over 440 employees and annual sales expected to exceed £64m for 2025. MTL Advanced is recognised globally as a market leader in the processing of armoured steels and complex fabrications. The business has invested more than £15m in additional factory space and state-of-the-art equipment over the past two years.

In addition, over 100 apprentices have now come through the doors of MTL's in-house Academy since it opened its doors in 2015 and the company’s home-grown talent has played a critical role in the company’s recent growth and success.

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After a visit to a nursery and the Baby Basics UK charity in Sheffield, Her Royal Highness then visited Yorkshire Crisps in Rotherham.

The luxury hand cooked crisps and popcorn maker is based at Waleswood where its award-winning produce is made by a small, dedicated team using the finest local ingredients for a local, national and international market.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Crisps said: "It was a truly memorable day for our whole team. Her Royal Highness was a wonderful guest, generously taking the time to speak with colleagues across the site and showing genuine interest in the people and processes behind our crisps. Her warmth and engagement made a lasting impression on everyone she met.

"We are also proud to recognise the outstanding work The Princess Royal continues to do in supporting local industry and championing charities across the UK. Her Royal Highness’s dedication to strengthening communities and celebrating British enterprise is both inspiring and greatly appreciated."

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News: MTL delivers on defence contract

Rotherham-based MTL Advanced, one of the UK’s largest contract manufacturing businesses, has formally handed over the first fully British-manufactured Mission Module for the Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme to KNDS UK.

The firm, which operates a 387,000 sq ft facility at Brinsworth, was chosen in 2022 to supply armoured steel for the production of the MoD Boxer Armoured Vehicle Programme under a £-multi-million, multi-year contract. A year later it added to its current contract to supply armoured steel kits of parts for over 450 Drive Modules to KNDS’s fabrication line in Stockport.

The milestone marks a significant achievement for UK land defence manufacturing and represents the culmination of over two years of close collaboration between the two companies.

The handover ceremony took place at MTL Advanced’s Brinsworth headquarters in Rotherham, and was attended by KNDS Directors Tom Winney and Roland Hoegerle alongside the Secretary of State for Defence and local Rotherham MP Rt Hon John Healey.

This Mission Module is the first to be built entirely in the UK, from raw plate material through to final fabrication, and is part of MTL’s base order with KNDS for over 100 modules, a number expected to grow in the coming years. The order forms part of more than £40m in contracts awarded by KNDS to MTL Advanced to support the UK’s Boxer MIV programme.

Karl Stewart, General Manager at MTL Advanced, said: “This is an incredibly proud moment for MTL Advanced, our people, and the UK defence manufacturing sector. Delivering the first fully UK-built Mission Module demonstrates the strength of our partnership with KNDS and our capability to deliver world-class defence solutions. Our team has worked tirelessly to transfer the specialist knowledge from Germany to the UK, ensuring we can meet the highest standards required for this vital programme.”

MTL Advanced has been a key supplier to the Boxer programme for over 18 years, working with both KNDS (formerly KMW) and Rheinmetall. The company was the first UK business to qualify to the German Bundeswehr TL standards for processing armoured steel.

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The first mission module handover ceremony was followed by a tour of MTL’s facility which included a visit of the company’s award-winning Training Academy where 15-20 new apprentices start their engineering career every year. First Year Apprentices were given the chance to showcase some of their work to the Secretary of State for Defence and esteemed guests from KNDS.

Over 100 apprentices have now come through the doors of MTL's in-house Academy since it opened its doors in 2015 and the company’s home-grown talent has played a critical role in the company’s recent growth and success.

With now over 440 employees and annual sales expected to exceed £64m in 2025, MTL Advanced is recognised globally as a market leader in the processing of armoured steels and complex fabrications. The business has invested more than £15m in additional factory space and state-of-the-art equipment over the past two years, with further investments planned for late 2025.

John Healey MP, Defence Secretary, said: “It was great to speak with the brilliant apprentices at MTL Advanced and to hear how important local home-grown talent has been to the success of the business and the delivery of the UK’s innovative Boxer MIV programme. “In this new era for defence, we are proud to be backing British industry, British innovators and British jobs. Our Defence Industrial Strategy will help keep us safe and make defence an engine for growth in every region and nation of the UK.”

The Mission Module will now be integrated into the Boxer vehicles for the British Army, marking another step in bringing advanced armoured vehicle production fully back to the UK.

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News: MTL's £10m investment in Rotherham is an investment in the future

MTL Advanced, a leading UK-based engineering and manufacturing company, has completed the build of a new 67,000 sq ft factory adjacent to its existing 300,000 sq ft unit in Rotherham.

This expansion represents a substantial £10m investment towards the future growth of the business, driven by the award of a long term ongoing multi-million-pound contract in partnership with a key customer. The new facility is scheduled to be completed this month, with production set to begin during December.

Coinciding with the launch of the new Brinsworth factory, MTL has also unveiled a complete rebrand, marking a new era for the company. The rebrand reflects MTL’s forward-thinking approach and renewed focus on innovation, quality, and manufacturing excellence.

As part of this strategic investment, MTL has significantly enhanced its manufacturing capabilities with the acquisition of several pieces of cutting-edge equipment for this new “factory of the future”. Among the new machinery is a large format LVD press brake, which will enable the precise bending and forming of large metal components, increasing MTL’s capacity to handle complex and heavy-duty fabrication tasks.

The company has also invested in two Doosan auto pallet horizontal machining centres, designed for high-speed, high-precision milling and drilling of complex parts. These machines are equipped with automatic pallet changers to minimize downtime, boosting productivity and operational efficiency.

Additionally, MTL has installed seven Yaskawa robot welding centres, which feature fully automated welding technology, ensuring outstanding repeatability, speed, and precision in welding operations. This advanced setup will allow MTL to maintain high production volumes while adhering to the highest quality standards. As part of this investment, MTL also installed a state-of-the-art fully automated welding line for high volume and complex high strength steel structures.

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The expansion is not only a significant step towards enhancing MTL’s production capabilities but it also has a positive impact on the local community through job creation, fostering economic growth in the region.

The company is actively recruiting, with 100 new staff expected to join the business over the next 12 months, including 24 apprentices who just started their careers at MTL early September 2024, and 30 new staff scheduled to join the business in quarter 4 to coincide with the opening of the new Advanced Manufacturing Centre.

This will take MTL’s headcount past the 400 staff mark in 2025, including over 10% of apprentices, which represents another exciting new milestone reached by the Brinsworth-based company.

Karl Stewart, General Manager of MTL Advanced, said: “This £10m investment is a major milestone for MTL Advanced, reinforcing our commitment to long-term growth and stability. Our new Advanced Manufacturing Centre and state-of-the-art equipment will not only expand our production capabilities but also strengthen our ability to meet the growing demands of our customers.

"This new business has been won on the back of excellent quality, outstanding on-time delivery performance and a collaborative approach to customer service. We are delighted that our valued customers continue to trust our ability to deliver. Securing contracts such as this, alongside our recent other successes within Defence, Rail, and Construction is an endorsement by our customers of MTL’s ability to add value to their supply chains. It’s taken years of hard work from all our team to build that trust with our customers and our main focus remains on building a strong and sustainable order book, ensuring long-term stability for MTL and the skilled workforce that supports us.

"Our complete rebrand marks an exciting new chapter for MTL Advanced, aligning our brand with our vision for the future. It represents our commitment to innovation, quality, and our role as one of the leading contract manufacturers in the UK.”

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News: Jobs boost as manufacturer looks to press ahead with Rotherham expansion

Specialist manufacturer, MTL Advanced has submitted a planning application to expand its operations in Rotherham.

If approved, it could lead to 70 new jobs being created.

Part of the WEC Group, the leading contract manufacturing and fabrication specialist already operates a 300,000 sq ft facility at Brinsworth, working with specialist metal to supply sectors such as defence and rail.

The latest plans involve an under used area at MTL's Grange Lane site, which was previously home to Exel Logistics, and the erection of a new manufacturing facility with ancilliary offices as an expansion of the existing business.

The intended use for the 73,700 sq ft industrial unit is to house a new manufacturing line for fabrication of steel products for the construction industry.

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Plans, drawn up by agents at Stainton Planning, state: "Due to the continued success of this resilient and innovative business, and to ensure they can stay, and expand, in Brinsworth, MTL now urgently require additional space for the manufacture of steel for construction industry plant.

"As well as delivering new jobs, this development will secure the future of this business on this site in Rotherham, and remove any potential need for the business to move out of the area.

"The proposed industrial building would deliver significant economic and social benefits by allowing this existing established and thriving business to stay in their current location, enabling them to expand and deliver at least 70 new jobs."

Rotherham Council has asked for an updated transport statement regarding staff arriving and leaving at busy periods given that public transport is poor.

The expansion marks a remarkable turnaround for the company. Having relocated from Darnall, Sheffield in 2010, just four yers later MTL went into administration, downed by problems with a £25m overseas defence contract. Saved by the Darwen-based WEC Group, the new company has continue to grow since 2015, picking up large scale contracts on the way.

MTL introduced an apprenticeship scheme in 2015, after opening an in-house engineering academy. Over 60 apprentices have now come through MTL’s apprenticeship scheme.

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News: MTL Advanced secures £40m defence contracts

Rotherham-based MTL Advanced has been awarded additional multi-million, multi-year defence contracts from KNDS for the UK’s Boxer programme.

The leading contract manufacturing and fabrication specialist, which operates a 300,000 sq ft facility at Brinsworth, was chosen last year to supply armoured steel for the production of the MoD Boxer Armoured Vehicle Programme under a £-multi-million, multi-year contract.

MTL Advanced is adding to its current contract to supply armoured steel kits of parts for over 450 Drive Modules to KNDS’s fabrication line in Stockport.

In addition to this existing contract, MTL has now also been awarded a further contract to undertake the full fabrication and assembly of Mission Modules - the kits that can be interchanged on the vehicle depednding on the mission.

These contracts, which have a combined value in excess of £40m over the next eight years, mark another significant milestone for MTL Advanced and demonstrate customers confidence in MTL’s abilities and reputation as the leading supplier of complex armoured fabrications to the defence industry.

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Karl Stewart, general manager of MTL Advanced, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded these prestigious contracts. This achievement not only reinforces our position as a trusted partner in the defence industry, but also reflects the exceptional capabilities of our factory and our team. We are proud to be contributing to the production of the UK’s Boxer vehicles, which will play a vital role in enhancing the operational capabilities of the British armed forces.

“Contracts of this type allow the business to grow its workforce in both skilled labour and invest in the future through our award-winning apprenticeship scheme. Based on this and other contracts which MTL has won over the last six months, the company is expecting to hire over 50 additional staff during 2024 and create opportunities for a further 15 apprenticeship positions per year.”

On the back of these recent contract awards, MTL Advanced has invested over £2.5m during 2023 in new equipment and during 2024 will be making further significant investments in new equipment and the manufacturing footprint.

Ian Anderton, managing director of WFEL Ltd (a company of KNDS) said: “KNDS demands the highest quality components and service levels from its sub-contractors and as MTL meets these rigorous requirements, we are pleased to welcome them to our UK supply chain. Partnerships like this highlight our commitment to a long-term collaborative approach supporting co-investment in delivery, innovation and manufacturing in the UK.”

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News: Plans approved for new artwork in Rotherham town centre

Planners at Rotherham Council have approved plans for an eight metre high sculpture in Rotherham town centre but admit that it "may not be to everyone’s taste."

Camellia is a ground-breaking new artwork developed by internationally acclaimed sculptor James Capper. Commissioned by Gallery Town and jointly funded by Arts Council England and local businesses, Camellia is a moving sculpture which will feature petals that react to the movement of light.

The work was inspired by the camellia flowers brought to Wentworth Woodhouse in the eighteenth century, some of the oldest varieties known to exist in the UK.

Permission has been secured for the pedestrianised area of the town centre on College Street immediately adjacent to All Saint’s Square. Temporary permission is granted for three years and it is intended to site the sculpture permanently on the nearby Forge Island leisure development which is currently under construction.

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A planner's report approving the application, reads: "It is considered that the sculpture raises no issues with regards to the amenity of neighbouring occupiers or highway safety, the only material planning consideration would be visual impact.

"The location is highly sensitive in conservation terms being immediately adjacent to the Grade I Listed Rotherham Minster. However, the sculpture will clearly be read as a piece of public art and would be sited in this location on a temporary basis.

"The appearance of the artwork is subjective and may not be to every one’s taste. However, it is not a building, or a permanent structure and it is considered that it is acceptable in design terms to be sited in this location on a temporary basis. It is therefore considered that the sculpture would not harm the setting of the Grade I Listed Rotherham Minster or the Town Centre Conservation Area and would help to add visual interest to this part of the town centre."

Launched in 2011, Gallery Town’s mission is to rejuvenate and celebrate Rotherham’s cultural history by using art to encourage, inspire and offer opportunities to explore our local community. Since its inception, the project has successfully displayed more than 100 works of art, which can be found in more than 60 locations across Rotherham’s town centre.

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News: Dramatic contemporary sculpture aims to help Rotherham town centre bloom

An eight metre high sculpture is set to be unveiled later this year in Rotherham town centre, the work paying homage to Rotherham’s rich industrial heritage as well as exploring our relationship with nature and our impact on the environment.

Camellia is a ground-breaking new artwork developed by internationally acclaimed sculptor James Capper. Commissioned by Gallery Town and jointly funded by Arts Council England and local businesses, Camellia is a moving sculpture which will stand at eight metres tall and features petals that react to the movement of light.

The project for the Gallery Town initiative was inspired by the camellia flowers brought to Wentworth Woodhouse in the eighteenth century, some of the oldest varieties known to exist in the UK.

Camellia has been fabricated by apprentices working at Brinsworth-based MTL Advanced Ltd, who have spent more than three months working with James Capper to breathe life into his unique concept.

Throughout the summer, James is inviting children and young people to explore their gardens, local parks and woodland and draw a silhouette or outline shape which has been inspired by the natural world. The designs could be made up of petals, flowers, leaves, trees or even a house plant, with some of the best designs being incorporated into the finished sculpture.

Camellia is the culmination of more than four years’ careful work by Gallery Town to bring a site-specific and thought-provoking contemporary sculpture to Rotherham. An accompanying exhibition is set to take place later in the year at Clifton Park Museum.



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James Capper, sculptor said: "My work has often been inspired by nature and explores the relationship between engineering and the natural world in sculptural forms. When I was approached by Gallery Town to produce a unique work for Rotherham, I was fascinated by many of the important contributions the town has made towards shaping the modern world, from the Rotherham plough, which helped to spark the industrial revolution, to the cutting-edge search and development that continues within the borough today.

"I wanted to draw on the town’s rich cultural and industrial heritage and beautiful green spaces to create a sculpture that I hope people visiting, living or working in the town will feel proud."

Nick Cragg, Chairman, Gallery Town, said: “Camellia is, without a doubt, Gallery Town’s most ambitious project to date. We wanted to create a work that would inspire, enthuse and even challenge our perceptions of the world around us, and James’ work certainly fulfils this challenging brief.

An important part of Gallery Town’s work over the past decade has been to give people living and working in Rotherham the chance to become a part of the Gallery Town experience. During that time, we’ve showcased the work of our youngsters, communities and up-and-coming local artists throughout the town. Camellia offers a chance for our young people to make their mark on a truly unique piece of sculpture, which we hope will be enjoyed by people living, working and visiting our town centre for many years to come.

Art can play a vital role in regeneration, and over the past three years our board has been working closely with Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Arts Council and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. It marks the beginning of an exciting new phase of the Gallery Town project and one that not only brings the work of an internationally renowned sculptor to South Yorkshire, but will also help to reinvent the way we think about our town centre.”

The closing date for entries is Friday 23rd September. More details about how to submit entries can be found on the Gallery Town website.

Launched in 2011, Gallery Town’s mission is to rejuvenate and celebrate Rotherham’s cultural history by using art to encourage, inspire and offer opportunities to explore our local community. Since its inception, the project has successfully displayed more than 100 works of art, which can be found in more than 60 locations across Rotherham’s town centre.

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News: MTL Advanced wins armoured steel contract

Rotherham-based MTL Advanced has been chosen to supply armoured steel for the production of the UK’s MoD Boxer Armoured Vehicle Programme, under a £-multi-million, multi-year contract awarded jointly by WFEL and parent company KMW.

The armoured material will be used in the Boxer vehicle hull assembly, which will be fabricated at WFEL’s specialist Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Stockport.

MTL Advanced have invested in excess of £2m in new capital equipment to help support this project and meet increased demand. The new investments have been spread around the various manufacturing cells of the Rotherham business, to provide an enhancement in capacity, in line with the production schedules for the UK Boxer vehicles contract.

MTL operates a 300,000 sq ft facility at Brinsworth.

In a major boost to the local community, this contract award has contributed to the creation of 30 new jobs at MTL Advanced, who have also welcomed 12 new Apprentices to their Engineering & Welding Apprentice Academy during September, demonstrating MTL’s on-going commitment to train the next generation of Engineers. MTL Advanced says that investing in the next generation of talented engineers is critical to their ongoing success.

The company has also recruited an additional four young job seekers as part of the nationwide KickStart campaign and new Graduate schemes have also been brought forward, to upskill MTL’s staff and provide them with further education and career progression opportunities.

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MTL Advanced General Manager, Karl Stewart, said: “We are really excited to have been awarded this major contract, which will give us the opportunity to work in partnership with WFEL and KMW on such an important UK Defence project. We look forward to engaging closely with WFEL and KMW’s engineering teams and leveraging our armour manufacturing expertise to help make this Boxer Vehicle programme a great success for the British Army.

"As a company located at the heart of the Sheffield-Rotherham Advanced Manufacturing corridor, the region that was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, we are immensely proud to be able to bring such a prestigious multi-year contract to Rotherham for the benefit of our local community.”

This is the latest sub-contract to be awarded by WFEL, a key partner in the manufacture of the Boxer Armoured Vehicles for the British Army, under the $2.3 bn contract signed in November 2019 between ARTEC and the UK MoD.

The company will be attending a KickStart recruitment event on Wednesday January 12 at the Youth Hub at Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, New York Stadium. Local individuals will be presented with the opportunity to apply to one of the newly created positions and work on exciting contracts, such as the UK Boxer Programme.

MTL Advanced will also be hosting an open evening during National Apprenticeship Week 2022 on Thursday 10th February, where local school leavers and anyone interested in starting a career in engineering will be welcome to discuss the company’s apprenticeship opportunities for September 2022.

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News: £2m investment and huge recruitment drive at MTL Advanced

MTL Advanced, a division of one of the largest engineering groups in Europe, has made a further investment £2m in new capital equipment in its Rotherham facility to meet the demands of a series of new high-profile contract wins for the Defence and Construction industries.

The new investments have been spread around various manufacturing cells of the business including large format Laser Cutting, Large Folding, and CNC Machining to provide a much-needed capacity increase in line with the company’s growing order book.

The latest machinery arrival has seen MTL commission their brand new 6m x 2.5m Trumpf 10kw 3060 TruLaser large format fibre laser earlier this month. This was a welcome addition to the company’s already extensive large profiling cell, which comprises of 2 other 6m x 2.5m lasers, a 20m x 3.2m bevel laser and a large 25m x 5m high-definition plasma cutting machine on top of 4 other laser cutting machines.

This new 10Kw fibre laser will provide the company with a significant boost in productivity and allow MTL to offer better laser cutting lead times and improved contour quality to their customers for large profiles of up to 30mm in thickness.

The new fibre laser has come on the back of another major investment in September, which has seen MTL acquire a 4.5m wide x 640 tonne Ursviken press brake. Now boasting three 640 tonne capacity large Ursviken presses including two 7.2m wide presses, MTL have strengthened their position as the go-to contract manufacturer for large cut and fold requirements in mild steel, wear resistant steel, aluminium, stainless steel, and armoured materials.

Recent investments have not been limited to MTL’s profiling bay however, as the company has also purchased two new Hartford machining centres earlier this year to boost their CNC Milling capacity, resulting in many additional job vacancies across the business.

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Karl Stewart, General Manager at MTL Advanced stated: “Investing in the very latest technology continues to strengthen our position as one of the UK’s leading contract manufacturers and we are extremely pleased with our recent purchases as this reinforces our ability to handle large multi-million pounds projects. We have just secured new long-term orders in excess of £10m this month, with production starting in the new year, and these new additions to our machinery line-up will enable us to meet the demands of these contracts. These are really exciting times for MTL as we approach 2022 with a very strong order book and this has created many exciting new vacancies to join our operations here in Rotherham.”

MTL Advanced have just advertised around 40 new vacancies on the back of these recent investments and contract wins, with many opportunities to join their 300,000 sq. ft. Brinsworth facility. These include seven laser operators and general operatives, four welders / fabricators, four CNC millers, two press brake operators, two paint sprayers, two material handlers, as well as various project engineers, supervisors, training officers, and sales estimator positions to name but a very few.

These new job roles come in addition to MTL’s recent major apprentice recruitment scheme, which has already seen MTL hire 12 new commercial and technical apprentices in September as well as four new recruits as part of the nationwide KickStart campaign, a national scheme aimed at getting 16–24-year-olds who were previously at risk of long-term unemployment into work.

Stewart added: “Investing in the next generation of talented engineers is critical to our ongoing success and we now have dedicated trainers in the factory whose sole purpose is to mentor and upskill our home-grown workforce. We are now gearing up our operations ahead of these major future contracts, and our recent investments in training and modern machinery will enable us to proactively plan our forward growth and attract the required new talent into the business.”

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News: MTL Advanced investing in Rotherham facility

MTL Advanced, a division of one of the largest engineering groups in Europe, has made a further investment in its Rotherham facility.

It is also on a recruitment drive for new apprentices.

Since being taking over by the WEC Group, the contract manufacturing specialist has gone from strength to strength - winning orders and taking on new staff. It processes in the region of 25,000 tonnes of material annually and are capable of handling all sizes and types of work from carbon steel to aluminium.

MTL Advanced has made further investments in the latest machining technology and purchased an additional state-of-the-art Machining Centre. This will run alongside a Double Column Vertical Machining Centre which was commissioned in November 2020.

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MTL said that the investment has come off the back of an extremely successful Q1 in 2021, despite the challenging industrial conditions over the past 12 months. It is the second investment to increase machining capacity in seven months and the new Machining Centre arrived at the Brinsworth site in early May.

The new 2m x 0.8m 3 AXIS Machining Centre will provide an increase in machining capacity and better lead times for our customers. The additional demand for machining services has also created new job opportunities, as well as four CNC Machining Apprenticeship positions to join in the firm's September 2021 intake.

MTL currently has over 40 job opportunities available including 18 Apprenticeships.

Karl Stewart, general manager at MTL Advanced said: "After a successful Q1, we continued investing in the latest technology to add value to our customer’s supply chain. The addition of the new Machine is part of our ongoing investment plan and is strengthening our position as one of the UK’s leading contract manufacturers."

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News: Rotherham-based manufacturing specialists in major recruitment drive

MTL Advanced, a division of one of the largest engineering groups in Europe, has recently unveiled a major recruitment drive for its Rotherham site, after securing several new multi-million-pound, multiyear rail and defence contracts.

Despite tough trading conditions brought about by the recent pandemic and a reduction in activity during the UK wide lockdown, MTL have continued supporting their customers working in key industries and pursued new opportunities which have led to a surge in orders and job opportunities available at their 300,000sq. ft. state-of-the-art Brinsworth factory.

The increase in manufacturing requirements linked to the growth in demand from the company’s customer base is set to provide new job opportunities for individuals within the local area. This has resulted in MTL publishing vacancies for 28 new positions, including Skilled Welders, CNC Machinists, Press Operators, Production Assistants, Quality and Project Engineers to name but a few.

MTL are also set to recruit an additional ten apprenticeship positions in December within their multi award-winning Engineering & Welding Apprentice Academy.

MTL is recognised for its ability to supply complex, high volume projects whilst meeting customer’s quality and delivery requirements. These projects typically involve high strength mild and wear resistant steels, armoured plate and alloy materials. It has the capacity and capabilities to supply fabricated, machined and painted assemblies.

Karl Stewart, General Manager at MTL said: “It’s been a challenging year for the manufacturing industry as a whole and like many other UK businesses we initially had to revise our forecasts down for Q2. Thankfully we have a very loyal and varied customer base, as well as a talented workforce which has allowed us to come out of the lockdown in a much stronger position.”

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With major investments currently under way across the Rail sector nationwide, MTL’s recent growth in order book has been closely linked to their ability to manufacture complex aluminium fabrications for train manufacturers in line with their EN15085-2 Rail Welding accreditation along with the supply of high grade steel kits of parts for freight wagon manufacturers.

The company’s good fortunes have however not only been limited to Rail contracts and the company’s specialist Defence team have also managed to win various large contracts for several UK and European Defence programmes.

Continuous investment in the latest technology has been one of the key drivers to MTL’s recent success, and the securing of highly anticipated Defence contracts for armoured steel has now led the company to invest a further £300,000 in September 2020 to acquire a new state-of-the-art Hartford machining centre.

Stewart continued: “Due to a successful couple of months, we are able to continue investing in new machinery to keep us at the forefront of the industry. MTL is one of the very few companies in the UK which are able to machine and fabricate complex armoured parts, and this new investment will strengthen our position as the industry leading armoured steel contract manufacturer.

“Our sales forecasts are now 20% over pre-COVID-19 targets and we now require more outstanding individuals to join our workforce to deliver on our customers’ expectations.”

MTL Advanced is now on track to finish 2020 with a record quarter and the aforementioned investments in additional staff and capital equipment are set to propel the company on to new heights in the foreseeable future.

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News: Rotherham firm signs Armed Forces Covenant

MTL Advanced has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, recognising the value that Armed Forces Personnel including, veterans, reservists and military families bring to organisations and businesses across the UK.

With a 300,000 sq ft base in Brinsworth, the firm is a project manufacturing specialist in the metal sector and supplies leading names in sectors such as defence, construction, offshore and renewable energy, recycling and rail.

The covenant is a commitment to support Armed Forces Personnel, by offering employment and support, whilst celebrating the invaluable and innovative contribution they make to the businesses.

MTL Advanced has a long standing relationship with members of the armed forces, with a number of employees having served in the past, or who are currently reservists and signing the covenant demonstrates continued support towards current and future military employees.

Michael Ellmore, Head of Sales at MTL Advanced, said: "MTL Advanced are honoured to sign the Armed Forces Covenant. As a veteran myself with long service in the armed forces, it brings me immense pride that we are committed to our Armed Forces Personnel and showing our support to the military community."

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With two main principles of the covenant, MTL Advanced commit to ensure that no member of the Armed forces community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen and ensure that any special considerations required by injured or bereaved personnel is sufficiently provided.

As an armed forces-friendly organisation, MTL Advanced are committed to taking a proactive approach in harnessing the benefits of recruiting from the Armed Forces Community and the commercial opportunities which can be brought to the organisation.

MTL Advanced has a proven history of working within the defence industry through the manufacture of armoured vehicle hulls and cabins including assembly and painting.

Elmore continued: "We will continue to show our support to the military community and we encourage other companies to support the community by signing the covenant themselves. As a growing company, we are always on the lookout for skilled engineers and talented personnel therefore we would like to encourage more veterans to come and join our team."

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News: Investment in Rotherham continues at MTL Advanced

Manufacturing specialist, MTL Advanced, has commissioned a large fibre laser cutting machine for its Rotherham premises following the award of multiple multi-million contracts for its blue-chip OEM customer base.

Rothbiz reported last month that MTL had launched a recruitment drive having secured several defence contracts across Europe. With a 300,000 sq ft base in Brinsworth, the firm is a project manufacturing specialist in the metal sector and supplies leading names in sectors such as defence, construction, offshore and renewable energy, recycling and rail.

Alongside the new vacancies, MTL has commissioned a new TruLaser 5040 fibre laser cutting machine, the second addition of its kind in the past nine months.

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Karl Stewart, general manager of MTL Advanced, said: "This new investment in state-of-the-art technology will enable us to take on more business and improve our service and lead times to customers.

"We are focused on expanding our customer base to fuel our company's continued success and have recently started a major recruitment drive to create 59 new positions in order to consolidate our position as a leading contract manufacturing business."

The 8KW 5040 Trumpf TruLaser comes fully fitted with an automated LiftMaster and is one of the fastest laser cutting machines in the UK, offering high speed nitrogen cutting on a large range of materials as well as the ability to cut up to 40mm stainless steel, 25mm mild steel and aluminium. The machine also has the ability to cut copper and brass up to 10mm.

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The company-wide investment and expansion plans for 2018 mark a stunning turnaround since the company went into administration in 2015 and were taken over by the WEC Group.

Michael Ellmore, head of sales at MTL Advanced, said: "Investment into the latest technology, such as the addition of this new fibre laser cutting machine, is a vital part of our plans for continued growth as it enables us to increase productivity across the entire parts spectrum and maintain our commitments to providing the highest quality turnkey service.

"The new laser takes the total of laser cutting machines at our Rotherham site to eight, and 26 in total within our whole Group, which indisputably makes us one of the largest laser cutting operations in Europe."

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News: Recruitment drive at Rotherham manufacturer

Rotherham manufacturing specialist, MTL Advanced, is launching a recruitment drive having secured several defence contracts across Europe.

Since being taking over by the WEC Group, the firm has gone from strength to strength - winning orders and taking on new staff. This week, 48 new vacancies have been announced at its Brinsworth base.

A project manufacturing specialist in the metal sector, the firm carries one of the largest stocks of armour material in Europe and is capable of handling all sizes and types of work from carbon steel to aluminium. It supplies leading names in sectors such as defence, construction, offshore and renewable energy, recycling and rail.

With a focus on on the supply of military vehicles, structures and infrastructure protection, MTL said that it is set to play a major role in the upcoming UK defence programmes.

MTL Advanced has created numerous new positions across all areas of the business including a further 20 apprenticeship vacancies starting in September. The company has seen a 38% increase in staff over the past 12 months with an additional requirement for 28 permanent staff needed to support future growth.

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Karl Stewart, general manager at MTL, said: "MTL Advanced is continuing to demonstrate year on year our ability to adapt to the ever-increasing demands of our client base, by investing in people and new equipment which allows us to maintain our position in the market place. This is thanks to the hard work and commitment of all the team.

"As a company we are increasing our focus on the development of the next generation of skilled personnel. We have been running a comprehensive apprenticeship scheme for some time now and are proud of our relationship with the local schools and colleges. This year we will be taking on our largest number of apprentices to date and we plan to continue this initiative into the foreseeable future."

Rothbiz reported on major defence contracts last year including a multi-million pound contract by an OEM to supply armour kits for a large overseas vehicle programme and another for the serial production of armoured steel hulls for one of the largest defence OEM's in Europe.

Michael Ellmore, head of sales at MTL, said: "The past 18 months have been incredibly successful for MTL Advanced and we are now looking forward and preparing for what we anticipate to be our busiest spell to date. Our track record of successfully delivering complex programs coupled with our in-depth knowledge of defence platforms, makes us the ideal partner for global defence companies.

"Whilst apprenticeships remain a central part of our future growth plans, we are also preparing to launch a campaign which aims at recruiting ex-armed force veterans. As a veteran myself, I'm keen to boost the number of applications we get from this pool of highly skilled labour and add their skill set to help improve our business and to fulfil the current job openings.

"MTL's expertise has, for many years, lied in the manufacture of armoured steel, aluminium and titanium sub-assemblies as well as fully fabricated, painted and assembled vehicle hulls. The company's Design for Manufacture team has over 30 years' experience and with our capabilities to complete blast & ballistic validations, allows us to stand apart from the competition."

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MTL has been at the forefront of developing new capabilities for the processing of metallic materials for many years. It was the first company to develop a repeatable process for the forming of Ultra High Hard steels and has been successfully doing this for over eight years. It has worked on projects for clients such as BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, and General Dynamics.

The Rotherham firm is set to be at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) Show at Millbrook later this month. Bringing together industry and defence in the land equipment sector, the event is jointly sponsored by the Army Headquarters and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence which had a 2017/18 budget of over £14bn.

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News: Investment continues at MTL Advanced

Manufacturing specialist, MTL Advanced, has invested in a new automated large format fibre laser cutting machine to increase capacity as it continues to grow.

Since being taking over by the WEC Group, the firm has gone from strength to strength - winning orders and taking on new staff. Following a significant order in the rail sector, the firm said that over 30 new welding/fabrication, CNC machining, press braking and painting jobs are being created following a 100% increase in staff numbers over the past 24 months.

And now a brand new 6m x 2.5m 6kw Trumpf Fibre laser is being installed at the 13 hectare facility on Grange Lane, Brinsworth as part of an ongoing investment strategy.

The system provides superior contour precision and higher part quality than most other laser cutting machines in the market. It also comes fully equipped with a LoadMaster, automatically loading sheets to take the strain off operators and to improve speed and productivity.

MTL said that it is ideal for thin and fast cutting, enabling the firm to be competitive on large volume production contracts.

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Karl Stewart, director at MTL Advanced, said: "Investment in the latest manufacturing equipment allows the business to remain competitive and enjoy sustained growth. This latest investment which now totals £8.5m over the last 18 months enhances our production capacity and allows the business to provide a complete service to customers and the markets we serve.

"Lean manufacturing and automation continues to be an essential part of our strategy where we have automated large scale laser cutting machines, a robotic 640 tonne 7.3m press brake, and ten robotic welding cells."

As a one-stop-shop, MTL has extensive and large scale capabilities with on-site access to all of the latest fabrication, laser and machining technology. It processes in the region of 25,000 tonnes of material annually and are capable of handling all sizes and types of work from carbon steel to aluminium.

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News: Crossrail contract drives recruitment at MTL Advanced

Manufacturing specialist, MTL Advanced is creating 30 new jobs in Rotherham having secured a "significant order" in the rail sector earlier in the year.

Rothbiz reported in February that MTL, part of the Darwen-based WEC Group, won a significant order to supply complex safety critical fabrications to a leading rail industry OEM.

The manufacturer has not been named but the multi-million pound contract will ultimately be used for the Crossrail project bringing a new railway line to central London.

Now MTL Advanced says that over 30 new welding/fabrication, CNC machining, press braking and painting jobs are being created following a 100% increase in staff numbers over the past 24 months.

Since being taking over by the WEC Group, the firm has gone from strength to strength - winning orders and taking on staff backed by over £8m of investment from the new owners.

The contract will run over a number of years at the company's 13 hectare facility on Grange Lane, Brinsworth and is a major boost for the business.

MTL Advanced recently achieved BS EN 3834-2 accreditation for passenger rail and freight wagons and supplies Category 1 safety critical parts such as cab & bogie structures, body shell components, bolsters and fuel tanks. The firm is approved by Bombardier Transportation through its "SEAP" process used to evaluate and approve suppliers. Bombardier in Derby is producing the trains for Crossrail.

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Karl Stewart, commercial director at MTL Advanced, said: "We won this contract based on our manufacturing capabilities and our commitment to quality and delivery.

"The business is expanding and we have increased staff numbers from 130 to over 250 since 2015, which is expected to reach 300 by 2018. This is an exciting time for us, the UK's manufacturing industry and the surrounding area as we continue to boost local job creation."

The growth at MTL is supported by a number of long term contract wins in prolific industries such as defence, recycling and construction. The company has also recently taken on eight engineering apprentices and is looking to increase this to 20, as part of a five year program which is designed to provide individuals in the area with the skills and qualifications required to carve out a successful career in engineering.

Stewart added: "We have identified key areas as part of our ambitious growth strategy, and rail is a sector where we can make great progress as we are ideally located in Yorkshire's booming manufacturing hub."

As a one-stop-shop, MTL has extensive and large scale capabilities with on-site access to all of the latest fabrication, laser and machining technology. The rail project involves using a range of processes including laser cutting, bending, machining and welding/fabrication which are subject to the most stringent quality requirements from the client.

A dedicated 2,600 sq ft clean area is used for the welding of the aluminium structures, and a new surface treatment facility has been developed specifically for shot peening aluminium.

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News: MTL secures armoured steel contract

Rotherham's MTL Advanced has continued its successful 2017 and landed another high profile contract.

Following a multi-million pound contract win for the defence industry earlier in the year, MTL has recently won a new contract for serial production of armoured steel hulls for one of the largest defence OEM's in Europe.

A project manufacturing specialist in the metal sector, the firm carries one of the largest stocks of armour material in Europe and is capable of handling all sizes and types of work from carbon steel to aluminium. It supplies leading names in sectors such as defence, construction, offshore and renewable energy, recycling and rail.

The Brinsworth site houses state of the art equipment and dedicated teams of engineers working on projects for clients such as BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, and General Dynamics.

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Karl Stewart, director at MTL Advanced, said: "This contract demonstrates the continued growth of MTL Advanced and the confidence our customers have in the team to deliver projects of this type, on time, whilst meeting exacting quality requirements. This builds on the success of several recent multi-million pound contracts with NIMR Automotive, which were delivered on time and within budget."

The company is Europe's largest contract manufacturer of armoured steel structures with projects ranging from piece part kits, turrets and blast floors to fully fabricated, painted and assembled hulls.

With a global reach, MTL's customer base drives the requirement for the company to carry large stocks of material produced by European mills including High Hard and Ultra High Hard steels as well as certain grades of aluminium. This in turn enables the company to respond quickly to customer needs.

MTL has been at the forefront of developing new capabilities for the processing of metallic materials for many years. It was the first company to develop a repeatable process for the forming of Ultra High Hard steels and has been successfully doing this for over eight years.

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News: MTL wins major export contract

Rotherham's MTL Advanced has recently been awarded a multi-million pound contract by an OEM to supply armour kits for a large overseas vehicle programme.

A project manufacturing specialist in the metal sector, the firm carries one of the largest stocks of armour material in Europe and is capable of handling all sizes and types of work from carbon steel to aluminium. It supplies leading names in sectors such as defence, construction, offshore and renewable energy, recycling and rail.

The Brinsworth site houses state of the art equipment and dedicated teams of engineers working on projects for clients such as BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, and General Dynamics.

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The armoured kits will involve manufacturing complex parts from both Armox 500T and Armox 600T material which require cutting, pressing, fabrication, machining and painting.

The company said that, working closely with its customer, the project award "shows the continued growth of MTL Advanced within the global Defence and Security market illustrating our competitiveness and ability to deliver complicated and tight tolerance parts to a dedicated schedule."

Last year, MTL Advanced secured a massive order to supply armoured cabs to UAE armoured vehicle manufacturer, NIMR Automotive.

The MTL business, and its parent company WEC Group, has invested in excess of £8m over the last two years to place it at the forefront of contract manufacturing in the UK.

MTL has a strategic partnership with ALCOA Defense for armoured aluminium, being the only company able to produce reliable and repeatable results when cold forming aluminium.

The firm also supplies the German military market having been approved by the Bundeswehr with TL2350 accreditation to cut, machine and weld parts and has also developed its own add on perforated armour system - IMPAS (Integrated Modular Perforated Armour System).

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