SME News Midlands Enterprise Awards 2025/ 16 Best Nationwide Drop Forging Company 2025 W.H.Tildesley Ltd produces a wide variety of closed-die forged components that serve critical industires, including aerospace, petrochemical, subsea, defence, and specialist vehicles. They utilise a comprehensive selection of both ferrous and non-ferrous materials including carbon and alloy steels, stainless, duplex and super duplex alloys, aluminium, nickel alloys, copper alloys, and bronze. We learn more about W.H.Tildesley as the company is awarded in our Midlands Enterprise Awards 2025. W.H.Tildesley Ltd has been a proud part of British manufacturing since 1874, making it the UK’s oldest and most established drop forging company. To this day, they remain on their original site in Willenhall, West Midlands, an area rich in industrial history located in the heart of the Black Country. Sales Manager Phil Hobley tells us: “We have demonstrated time and time again our capability to forge a wide range of materials, particularly aluminium and titanium grades, which are highly sought after in the Aerospace and Motorsport sectors”. Small to medium batch sizes and technically challenging forged components have become a niche at W.H.Tildesley. Phil added: “We've created a niche for ourselves by focusing on small and medium batch sizes. We take pride in our ability to handle technically challenging forged components. We have proven our capability in supplying engineering solutions for the most complex requirements, becoming a trusted manufacturing partner for many of our customers”. W.H.Tildesley’s drop forging process is complemented by a range of additional in-house services, including component design, forging feasibility studies, and design optimisation through CAD modelling and simulation. Every job is fully simulated before dies are cut to ensure that material usage and process are optimised. This enables them to evaluate the overall process before any major cost is incurred. Additionally, they have an in-house tool room for the quick turnaround of dies and a fully equipped machine shop to finish forged components. A recent archival preservation project spanning 2 years saw all original production drawings, the oldest being from 1908, digitised and sorted into specific heritage customer groups. Upon further research, it was discovered that W.H.Tildesley has an untold story in the production of forged and pressed components for many now iconic motorcycle, motorcar, and aircraft manufacturers. Most notably, producing components for the Rolls-Royce Griffon and Merlin engines used in various aircraft, including the legendary Supermarine Spitfire. Marketing Manager Richard Lee commented: “We continue to support the heritage sector and offer a dedicated service to those looking to reproduce critical components. We produce various forgings for the Supermarine Spitfire and have supported various vehicles used in heritage motorsport, including the Jaguar C, D, and E types, as well as the Austin-Healey. Even components for locomotives and historical bridges, we are happy to get involved in all aspects of heritage engineering”. In 2017, W.H.Tildesley was acquired by Brooks Forgings Ltd, and investment has continued across the group to safeguard forging capability in the UK. This has included the recent purchase of the forging plant from Henry Williams in Darlington, of which the largest power hammer, a 6.3-ton Banning GOA, has been installed and is now operational. This increases maximum capability to around 100kg net forging weight, subject to material type and component complexity. More recently, the group has acquired all forging screw presses and processing equipment from Cerro EMS, Birmingham, with plans to strategically distribute and install core equipment by the end of 2025. W.H.Tildesley offers its customers a comprehensive service, supply chain security, and the opportunity to leverage over 150 years of forging experience and knowledge, with the added peace of mind that they are dealing with a reputable and financially stable forging company that continuously invests in its capabilities and workforce. Contact: Phil Hobley – Sales Manager Contact: Richard Lee – Marketing Manager Company: W.H.Tildesley Ltd – Drop Forging Specialist Web Address: whtildesley.com / heritageforgings.com AIM-Jun25269
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