thyssenkrupp Materials UK fabrication’s growth through investment

When we talked to Adrian Palmer, Operations Director at thyssenkrupp Materials UK, it was clear that the business’s impressive growth was no happy accident. The decisions the company has taken and executed are part of an ongoing, clear plan. But during our conversation, Adrian Palmer repeatedly mentioned the importance of a sound investment strategy.

Intrigued we asked Adrian Palmer for more detail on that aspect.  He said: “The old saying tells you that a bad workman always blames the tools. It doesn’t tell you that having the right tools for the task makes a world of difference.” And, of course, in a larger manufacturing setting, with batch production, the right tools are essential.

The leading material supplier and supply chain solutions provider – thyssenkrupp Materials UK has a long and distinguished history in engineering, but the UK fabrication arm of the business only commenced operating in 2020. Since then, its growth has been remarkable. Output keeps hitting new highs and the customer base, across diverse sectors, is expanding.

Early in thyssenkrupp Materials UK fabrication journey, they purchased an elumatec SBZ 151 CNC machine. Adrian Palmer told us that this machine’s precision and productivity allowed the business to further secure some important orders in the construction and architecture sector and exceed the expectations of their initial customers.

One of those customers supplied the construction industry with modular balconies. The elumatec machine supported thyssenkrupp Materials UK in delivering both the volume and the fine tolerances required.

The projects thyssenkrupp Materials UK were working on grew in both number and scope. Soon they needed more machining capacity and again, based upon their original positive experience, explored the elumatec range. Their second elumatec CNC machine, purchased in 2023, is from the same family – another SBZ 151 model – but this time capable of handling aluminium profiles up to nine metres in length.

For example, one of the newest hotels on the Las Vegas strip – The Fontainebleau – is featuring façade panels cut and machined on thyssenkrupp Materials UK CNC machining centre. Another customer works in the prestige field of data centre construction.

Adrian Palmer told us that the business is in an exciting stage.  With two outstanding CNC machines, both with 5G capability and elumatec’s cloud-enabled software, they are equipped and ready to explore collaboration with new partners in any sector.

The business is in a strong position. While that is due to a combination of factors: hard work, skill, vision and determination, that initial SBZ 151 CNC machine, combined with the support of the elumatec team, proved to make a positive impact on thyssenkrupp Materials UK new and improved operational strategy. As Adrian Palmer told us: “That sound investment at the outset proved important. It takes a good team and good tools in today’s manufacturing world. Thankfully, we’ve got both.”