Family-owned steel firm launches £6m 3D printing facility

Family-owned steel castings business William Cook has invested more than £6m in a 3D printing facility in Sheffield.

The factory, at its Parkway Avenue site, combines 3D printing and casting technology to manufacture complex components.

The facility will help the company win new customers and safeguard 200 jobs, said William Cook, which supplies the energy, defence, rail and aerospace sectors.

The company dates back to 1840 and has factories in Sheffield, Leeds and County Durham. It is a partner of the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, where a dozen of its newly-hired apprentices are undergoing training.

Sir Andrew Cook said: “This is not only an investment in our family company, but also in our employees, customers, suppliers and the City of Sheffield.

“William Cook has been in Sheffield since the late 19th century and is the only traditional large Sheffield manufacturer with our name still ‘over the shop’.

“This investment has totally renovated and modernised our site at Parkway and we believe it will play an increasingly important role in Sheffield’s – and Britain’s – manufacturing capabilities.

Olympic Gold Medalist Lord Coe opened the site in his hometown after the company supported the Sebastian Coe Charitable Foundation.

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