Bridgnorth Aluminium Invests £2 Million in New Technology to Fuel EV and Packaging Market Growth
Bridgnorth Aluminium has embarked on a £2 million investment in new technology at its 66-acre site in Shropshire, marking a significant step in its long-term growth strategy. The company, which employs over 330 people, reported a 33% increase in sales in 2024 and is actively recruiting for an additional 10 roles to support its expansion.
The growth follows a challenging 2023 when rising UK energy prices and the relocation of a major customer to China negatively impacted the business. Despite these setbacks, the company’s restructuring efforts and focus on new markets such as electric vehicle (EV) technology and packaging are already yielding positive results.
Gerhard Trilling, General Manager of Bridgnorth Aluminium, highlighted that the company's 2024 order book is looking strong, despite a 43% reduction in turnover the previous year. “We are ahead of our recovery plan,” Trilling said, noting that the workforce has surpassed their initial expectations of 305 employees, reaching 330, with further recruitment underway for production and engineering roles.
A key element of the company's growth strategy is a £2 million investment in casthouse technology, which will help meet rising demand for aluminium products in the EV and packaging sectors. This includes a £1.6 million investment in molten metal filtration equipment to enhance the quality of aluminium used in battery foil production and high-end packaging.
Adam Hunter, Deputy General Manager, emphasized that the new technology would enable Bridgnorth Aluminium to produce cleaner metal, critical for both the battery foil and premium packaging markets. Despite its expansion into new sectors, the company remains committed to its core business of manufacturing aluminium coils for lithographic printing plates, pharmaceutical packaging, and household foils.
