Bridgnorth Aluminium has completed a £180m investment programme at its Shropshire rolling mill, unveiling a new thin gauge slitting line as parent company Viohalco celebrated 25 years of ownership.
The latest investment strengthens the position of Bridgnorth Aluminium (BAL), the UK’s last remaining aluminium rolling mill, following a strong recovery that has seen the manufacturer return to 24/7 production and create 35 new jobs during the first half of 2026.
More than 500 employees, local dignitaries and stakeholders attended a celebration at the company’s Stourbridge Road facility, where the new production line was officially unveiled.
Originally founded in Wolverhampton as Star Aluminium 90 years ago, BAL has traditionally supplied aluminium products to the printing, packaging and construction sectors. In recent years, however, it has diversified into higher-growth markets including energy and cleaner mobility, most recently securing a five-year agreement to supply specialist aluminium coil to Lotte Aluminium USA for battery applications.
The completion of the latest capital investment means total spending at the Bridgnorth site has now reached £180m since Viohalco acquired the business in 2001, creating what the company describes as one of the UK’s most advanced aluminium rolling facilities.
Giorgos Drakos, Board Member of Bridgnorth Aluminium and part of the Viohalco Group, said the milestone reflected the company’s long-term commitment to UK manufacturing.
“We are firmly committed to production in the UK and respect the special role Bridgnorth Aluminium plays in local life, providing employment for several generations of family.
“The turnaround in fortunes after a very difficult 2023/24 has been phenomenal and we now have a platform to win work both at home and overseas. Consistent investment has created an advanced rolling mill and a unique national asset.
“Saturday was the opportunity to say thank you to the heartbeat of the business and to start writing a new chapter in the next 25 years of our history.”
Giorgos Drakos, Board Member of Bridgnorth Aluminium and part of the Viohalco Group
Alongside the investment milestone, the company announced a series of community initiatives, including a £25,000 donation to local charities and community groups.
This includes £15,000 for the Shropshire Community Foundation to support projects tackling loneliness in rural communities, following feedback from employees in a workforce survey.
BAL has also renewed its support for the community garden on the former Hazeldine Foundry site in Bridgnorth, committing £6,000 annually towards its maintenance.
Adrian Musgrave, Head of Sales at Bridgnorth Aluminium, said: “We are proud to be a Bridgnorth business and recognise that our factory has touched the lives of thousands of people in the town and will continue to do so as we expand. The garden is one of our ways of saying thank you!”
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