Manufacturers and Exporters

Companies within Sheffield City Region’s manufacturing sector typically report export ratios (exports as % of total sales) in excess of 80%, representing a significant export logistics opportunity for freight service providers located in the City Region. ^[16]

The Advanced Manufacturing Park

As well as hosting several of Sheffield City Region’s world-class engineering Research and Technology facilities – including the Boeing Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Rolls-Royce’s ‘Factory of the Future’ - the site is home to manufacturing operations for major international engineering companies and new, large-scale investments by Rolls-Royce Plc.

Map: Rotherham S60 5TZ

Large-Scale Rolls-Royce Investments at the AMP

Building on the company’s close collaboration with the University of Sheffield’s AMP-based Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Rolls-Royce Plc plans to develop three large-scale manufacturing facilities on the AMP, including the ‘Advanced Blade Casting Facility’ (ABCF) and ‘Project PoWeR’, both currently under construction.

Rolls-Royce Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF)

Officially opened in February 2015, the 140,000 sq. ft. Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) is one of the most advanced aero engine blade casting facilities in the world. The facility will be capable of manufacturing 100,000 blades per year when fully operational, incorporating ground-breaking manufacturing techniques including 3D structured light for geometry inspection. Each blade manufactured at the facility is cast to form a single crystal of super alloy, making it extremely strong and able to resist the intense heat inside a jet engine.

Rolls Royce Project PoWeR

Projected to become operational in 2015, Rolls-Royce’s Project PoWeR facility will manufacture and assemble large pressure vessels for the next generation of nuclear power stations. The development, on just under 17 acres of AMP land, will include a 226,000 sq. ft. factory building reaching a height of around 33 metres at its highest point. The facility will be able to accommodate the production of vessels that weighing around 140 tonnes and standing 23 metres high.

Major Manufacturers and Exporters

SIG Plc

SIG plc (“SIG”) is one of Europe’s leading distributors of specialist building products, serving the insulation & energy management, interior fit out and roofing markets. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. In 2012, SIG Plc reported revenues of over £2.6 billion. ^[17]

Tata Steel Europe

The second largest steel producer in Europe, Tata Steel Europe operates two sites in the Sheffield City Region – Swinden Technology Centre (Research and Development) and a large-scale manufacturing facility within the company’s Long Products Division.

The Long Products operation specialises in high grade and special steels for the world's leading companies in sectors including automotive, aerospace, civil engineering, component manufacturing, energy industries and consumer goods. The facility has a work force of approximately 2,050 employees and a turnover of more than half a billion pounds - representing 5% of overall group turnover. Tata Steel Europe produces around 1.1 million tonnes annually in the Sheffield City Region, accounting for 6% of the company’s total UK-based production.^[18]

Outokumpu Stainless Distribution

Sheffield-based Outokumpu Stainless Distribution is part of the Outokumpu Group, one of the largest producers of stainless steel products in the world.

In partnership with Norbert Dentressangle, the company supplies cold rolled and hot rolled coil, sheet and plate, and a wide range of fittings, flanges, tubular and long products to UK customers in a wide range of industry sectors - from cutlery to construction. The transport operation involves a dedicated fleet of vehicles operating across the UK on anything from a daily to weekly basis. ^[19]

Firth Rixson

With global headquarters and major manufacturing facilities in the Sheffield City Region, Firth Rixson is a world-leading manufacturer of seamless rolled rings, closed die forgings, open die forgings, extruded forgings and specialty metals. The company serves market sectors including aerospace, automotive, power generation, oil and gas and defence, employing 2,000 people and exporting to over 40 countries worldwide.