Local MP views new machine after £1 million investment from engineering firm Meltech

Blackburn MP Jack Straw visited local company Meltech Engineering to see the results of a £1 million investment in new technology which will revolutionise the way many global companies work with non-ferrous metals used for electrical distribution and control system parts, aluminium tubing and profiles. During his visit, he was asked to officially name Meltech’s latest groundbreaking extruder machine. The ‘Strongform’ is named after its developer, Meltech’s Engineering Director Frank Strong, who has taken existing technology and introduced a unique cantilever design to make the extrusion process more stable and able to withstand more demanding applications. Over a three year development period, Meltech, based in Bonsall Street, Mill Hill, has taken existing technology (originally developed more than 40 years ago by the UK Atomic Energy Authority – UKAEA – on its Springfields site near Preston) and introduced a unique cantilever design. Meltech received a grant from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) of £240,000 to assist with the development. The key benefits include a higher quality end result, lower operating costs and higher production rates, resulting in a more economically viable product which is easier to operate and maintain. The visit was hosted by Peter Drever, Managing Director of Meltech CRE, the Continuous Rotary Extrusion division of Meltech. He said: “We are really excited about the potential of the Strongform in the global marketplace. The greater flexibility of the new machine is already attracting interest from several companies and we are quietly confident of receiving our first definite order in the next few weeks, with others already in the pipeline.” Jack Straw added: “Congratulations to Meltech on this new innovation. It is great to see a Blackburn company strengthening its place on the world stage, demonstrating that highly skilled engineering is still very much alive and kicking here in Lancashire. The support of the TSB has clearly been instrumental in helping the Strongform machine come to market and I hope this machine will take Meltech on to even greater things.” ‘Strongform’ machines will have a price range of £750,000 to £1.75 million and Meltech hopes to sell between five and 10 each year, particularly to companies in the energy and automotive sectors as well as the wider metals industry.