Innovative Sheffield manufacturer doubles turnover in 12 months

Posted on 19 Aug 2020 by Jonny Williamson

Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield) has seen its turnover double from £2m to £4m in the past 12 months and has created 12 new jobs.

Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield) Ltd is a market leader in the machining of complex gas turbine products including shafts and discs, aerofoils and bearings, serving both the aerospace and energy industries.

The business originated as a spin-off of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) – one of the High Value Manufacturing Catapults, and its significant growth is due, in part, to the support it has received from the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub.

AML successfully secured a Productivity Grant from the Sheffield City Region, of £100,000 in 2019, which provided a platform for the company to purchase new machinery and invest in technical development.


Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield)


This new equipment enabled the business to capitalise on many aerospace companies bringing forward their maintenance programmes as a result of the forced grounding of aircraft, which increased demand for AML’s services.

It also created a step change in the production process, as well as opening up new business opportunities by removing the process of grinding certain parts. This saw AML secure new contracts to provide specialist high precision machining services to aerospace companies.

Without securing the investment, AML would have found it difficult to respond to increased demand. It also meant staff could be retained during this challenging period.

During lockdown, AML also installed new machinery, which it funded itself, enabling the business to quickly scale production of spares for the defence and aerospace sectors.

Managing Director of AML, Dr Gareth Morgan explained: “When we were faced, like most businesses, with the challenges of Covid-19 earlier this year, the funding we had secured meant that we could mitigate damage to our business and respond to customer changing needs. We were also able to grow and recruit new staff at a very difficult economic time.”

Over the past four years, AML has successfully accessed grant funding through the Sheffield City Region’s Scale Up, Made Smarter, Productivity, Enhancement Project and Exporting for Growth programmes.

As a result, the business has invested in developing its workforce, merging and enhancing its IT systems and creating a robust action plan for future growth and expansion.

The company has plans to hit £6m turnover by 2021 and this includes moving into a new sector and new international markets and automate systems through use of robotics.


*Header image courtesy of Depositphotos