Bridgnorth Aluminium has made a strong comeback in 2024, with its turnover soaring to nearly GBP 230 million (USD 287.5 million) and impressive performance improvements across the board. This Midlands-based company, the only fully integrated producer of flat-rolled aluminium coils in the UK, managed to boost its sales by 9% even in a challenging trading climate.
The past year has been a turning point for Bridgnorth Aluminium. After facing some tough times in 2023, the company has bounced back thanks to smart operational changes and the hard work of its team. The firm boosted productivity, cut costs, built stronger relationships with customers and successfully rolled out new projects, all of which have played a key role in this impressive recovery.
Some of the key highlights include landing a major multi-year contract with a European client and pouring nearly GBP 2 million (USD 2.5 million) into cutting-edge filtration technology at the Shropshire facility. This upgrade will allow the company to produce cleaner, higher-quality aluminium, catering to the booming electric vehicle and packaging markets.
Gerhard Trilling, General Manager, stated, "I'd also like to thank our workforce here in Bridgnorth – the shopfloor, engineering and maintenance teams all went the extra mile and stepped up to take up overtime opportunities and postpone holidays as demand for our products rose in the last year. We're also continuing to focus on sustainability, with new initiatives to reduce our energy use and carbon footprint."
As of now, the company employs 320 people and has also started a recruitment campaign to fill up to 10 new positions in the next few months.
Also read: Bridgnorth Aluminium champions critical metal status with UK recruitment drive
Gerhard Trilling further adds, "Like many in the metals sector, we continue to navigate a challenging environment. Uncertainty over global trading conditions, the new US tariffs, the introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and persistently high energy costs all present ongoing pressures. But despite these headwinds, Bridgnorth Aluminium remains focused on resilience, innovation and supporting our customers in the UK and internationally."
The annual accounts reveal that the firm has made a generous contribution of over GBP 50,000 (USD 62,500) to local charities in the past year. Further, this company specialises in producing aluminium coils that are essential for lithographic printing plates, packaging and battery foil stocks, particularly for the electrification sector.
Additionally, the firm has reported a pre-tax loss of GBP 7.2 million (USD 9 million) for the year ending December 31, 2024, which is a significant improvement from the GBP 30.8 million (USD 38.5 million) loss recorded in 2023. This positive change was bolstered by an increase in turnover, rising from GBP 210 million (USD 262.5 million) to GBP 229.9 million (USD 287.4 million).
This is because the firm has been navigating some tough challenges brought on by external economic factors, including the uncertainty surrounding US tariffs with the new administration and changes in carbon reporting and taxation laws are also in the mix. To tackle these issues, the company is actively engaging with the Department for Business and Trade and has submitted feedback on the upcoming industrial strategy that's expected to be unveiled later this year.
The company is ahead in materials science and low-carbon manufacturing technologies by collaborating with top research institutions like the Warwick Manufacturing Group, the Advanced Propulsion Centre and the universities of Birmingham and Brunel. These partnerships are crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the global market.
To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2025 outlook, read “Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025”
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