Sheffield Steelmaker Signs Forging Press Contract as Part of Project Vulcan
Special Melted Products Ltd (SMP), a long-established Sheffield manufacturer of high-integrity steels and nickel-based superalloys, has signed a significant contract with Italian engineering group Danieli Breda to supply a new forging press as part of the ambitious Project Vulcan. This marks a major step forward in the UK’s advanced manufacturing and forging capability.
SMP is one of the few UK firms producing specialist melted and engineered materials used in critical sectors including aerospace, civil nuclear and oil & gas. The new forging press will form part of Project Vulcan — a transformative industrial programme to install the UK’s first 10,000-tonne superalloy forging press, enabling production of larger and more complex components domestically for high-value applications.
The Danieli Breda press is expected to deliver enhanced precision, power and flexibility for SMP’s forging operations. Danieli Breda is a globally recognised supplier in forging and extrusion machinery, known for equipment serving demanding engineering applications in aerospace, energy and heavy industry.
Industry observers say this investment could strengthen UK supply chains, reduce dependency on overseas imports and support security of supply for critical components used by companies such as Rolls-Royce in civil and defence sectors.
The press contract aligns with broader regional growth: recent investment commitments tied to SMP suggest hundreds of local jobs and apprenticeships in South Yorkshire, along with plans for a future research and development centre focusing on materials innovation and digital manufacturing technologies.
Government and industry leaders have welcomed the development as a boost for UK manufacturing, reinforcing Sheffield’s reputation in world-class precision metallurgy and high-value engineering.
