John Healey MP has welcomed government plans to help rebuild the UK’s steel sector with the launch of a new Steel Council during a visit to one of the oldest steelmakers in South Yorkshire.
Special Melted Products (SMP) has a long history, with a metals production lineage dating back to the 1800s. The company has developed into a manufacturer of premium, speciality steels and nickel based Superalloys used in critical applications for the Aerospace, Defence and Energy industries including Civil Nuclear.
At its Sheffield headquarters John discussed the company’s ambitious plans for developing a first-of-its-kind superalloy production capability that would transform the country’s advanced manufacturing landscape.
SMP aims to increase its current production capacity through a capital expansion plan, potentially including the UK’s first 10,000 tonne superalloy press forge facility, which would supply the British aerospace and energy industries with advanced metallic materials that are currently dependent on imports.
During a tour of the facility John Healey MP said:
“One of my pledges at the last general election was to keep up the fight for the future of UK steelmaking and I’m pleased to see the launch of the Steel Council which is an important step towards safeguarding the sector for the long term.
“Special Melted Products has an impressive and ambitious plan to expand, move forward and continue their long heritage of steelmaking locally.
“We’re proud of our steel industry across South Yorkshire, and we’ve got world-class skills in our workforce producing highly specialist steel for the aerospace, defence, and energy industries.
“Our British steel sector is a national asset, vital for our security and our economy. The new Steel Council places workers and local communities at the heart of government plans as we bring forward up to £2.5 billion of investment to secure growth right across the country.”
The new Steel Council, which brings together leaders from across the industry to advise on the upcoming Steel Strategy, was chaired for the first time by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds earlier this week (7 January) together with co-chair Jon Bolton, Chairman of the Materials Processing Institute.
The Council will bring together steel sector leaders such as CEOs from Liberty Steel and Sheffield Forgemasters with trade union leaders, industry experts, devolved government representatives and trade associations to address the challenges facing the steel industry and make the changes needed to secure steelmaking in the UK.
It will meet regularly as the Government prepares to launch its Steel Strategy, providing a vital link between industry, workers, experts and government in every part of the UK and ensuring that both the workforce and economic growth are at the heart of its plans to rebuild the steel sector.