Yorkshire manufacturing company invests £2m in specialist equipment

A West Yorkshire-based welded mesh manufacturer has announced that it has invested £2m in upgrading its specialist equipment.

Siddall and Hilton Products, based in Brighouse, manufactures welded steel mesh for high-security fencing, general fencing and industrial mesh panels.

The specialist welding machine was commissioned at a cost of £2m, manufactured in Austria, and is now fully operational at the company’s site.

Running over 40% faster than any of the company’s existing machines and producing up to 70% less process scrap, it will increase capacity and efficiency at the business.

The new machine marks Siddall and Hilton Products’ most significant investment for 12 years and was funded by the business’s primary lenders, ABN AMRO, supported by £100k of grant funding from Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership.

Due its strong growth, the company has added a further nine trainee mesh operators, including two apprentices to its now 59-strong team, and the 126-year-old company is currently seeking another three recruits.

Ian Thurley, chief executive, Siddall and Hilton, commented: “The business is going from strength to strength and we’re proud of this, our biggest single achievement just two Covid-interrupted years since the MBO.

“This latest investment marks a major milestone in our world class journey as we continue to invest not only in the best machinery on the market, but also in building our workforce and developing our people to ensure we have the best skilled team for the future.”

Dating back to 1895, Siddall and Hilton processes over 1,500 tonnes of wire a month and now employs 59 people.