Grainger & Worrall is expanding its production capability in aluminum sand casting work into aerospace, energy and data center applications after securing projects for light aircraft engines, vehicle transmissions and non-automotive systems.
The company began its diversification strategy 18 months ago; due to conditions linked to global uncertainty and slower electric vehicle adoption. Since then, its senior management team has approved a £1 million investment program and completed recruitment for 30 new roles across manufacturing, maintenance and quality.
“It’s fair to say we’ve had a difficult time in recent years, with a depressed automotive sector, combined with the impact of Trump’s tariffs, extortionately high energy costs and NIC and minimum wage increases, creating an extremely tough trading environment,” explained Duncan Eldridge, CEO of Grainger & Worrall.
“Well, I’m pleased to say that our transition into new markets – complemented by an ongoing commitment to automotive – has turned things around and given us a robust foundation to grow again.”
Duncan added: “We have deep capabilities born from experience and investment in metallurgical science, computer modelling, digital sand printing and laser metrology, which means we move very fast to make prototypes (sometimes within 48 hours) and can work on multi-year development programs and then series production.”
“These attributes are very well suited for clients in defense, aerospace and energy and this has been reflected in the £30m of orders we have secured in the first six months of the year. This is just the start and we’re expecting further ‘wins’ between now and the end of 2026.”
Duncan further commented: “This is a really important deal for us, providing stability, working capital for growth and the immediate ability to invest in state-of-the-art equipment that supports winning new prototype and low volume orders.”
“Our expansive factory has been reorganized to improve productivity and boost capacity and we’ve got a structured personal development and recruitment plan in place to attract and retain the very best talent.”
He concluded: “The first investment push has been signed off and we’ll shortly start upgrading our digital sand printing technology. I can’t say too much on this at the moment, but this will be a massive differentiator going forward.”
Source: Grainger & Worrall
About Grainger & Worrall
Grainger & Worrall manufactures aluminum sand castings and machined components for industrial customers. The company provides engineering, materials support, prototyping, casting, machining and inspection services. It serves automotive, motorsport, aerospace, defense, marine, power generation, commercial vehicle and architectural markets. Grainger & Worrall supports projects from design and tooling through prototype and production casting. The company focuses on aluminum castings and related manufacturing processes. Grainger & Worrall was founded in 1946 by Vernon Grainger and Charles Worrall. It is headquartered in Shropshire, UK. The company runs manufacturing, machining and engineering operations from its Bridgnorth site. Grainger & Worrall reports serving more than 1000 customers in more than 50 countries. Its products and services support lightweight metal components for transportation, energy and industrial applications.