One of Bridgnorth's largest employers has completed its latest capital equipment installation to take total investment in its Stourbridge Road factory, UK, to £180 million.
Bridgnorth Aluminium (BAL) revealed the thin gauge slitting line at a celebration to mark 25 years of ownership by Greek industrial group Viohalco.
BAL is the UK’s last remaining aluminium rolling mill.
It was originally formed in Wolverhampton as ‘Star Aluminium’ 90 years ago.
The company has bounced back from a difficult trading period to return to 24/7 production, creating 35 new jobs in the first six months of this year.
It has traditionally served customers in printing, packaging, and construction.
It now also provides specialist aluminium coils for use in energy and cleaner mobility.
The latter was typified with its recent five-year deal to supply specialist material to Lotte Aluminium USA for use in battery development.
Giorgos Drakos, Board Member of Bridgnorth Aluminium, part of the Viohalco Group, said: “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.
“With this in mind, we wanted to mark 25 years of ownership by celebrating our tremendous workforce and the recent challenges we have overcome with Covid, tariffs, and rising energy prices.”
“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.”
As part of its celebrations, Bridgnorth Aluminium donated £25,000 to local charities and community groups, including a dedicated £15,000 boost to the Shropshire Community Foundation to reduce loneliness in rural areas.
This cause was chosen after it came out on top of a major survey of the workforce carried out earlier this year.
It has also agreed to renew the firm’s commitment to the community garden created on the former Hazeldine Foundry in Bridgnorth, England, a site where 18th-century engineer Richard Trevithick developed his first fee-paying steam locomotive.
BAL had originally funded the project to mark the passing of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II and to celebrate close ties between the Greek owners and the Royal Family.
