Contract signed for major defence machine shop

Sheffield Forgemasters has awarded McLaughlin & Harvey the £210 million contract to build its 30,000m² machine shop.

Located on a 16-acre brownfield site, adjacent to the company’s existing facilities, the building will house 24 new machines, including some of the world’s largest vertical turning lathes.

McLaughlin & Harvey has already completed enabling works and is underway with advanced works, which include piling for the building superstructure, machine base foundations, and installation of site-wide drainage and storm-water attenuation tanks.

Sheffield Forgemasters Programme Director Craig Fisher, said: “The new machine shop main works contract is a major element within our recapitalisation programme and will create one of Europe’s most advanced defence machining facilities.

“Following the advanced works contract, the erection of structural steelwork will commence this month.”

McLaughlin & Harvey Managing Director Paul Griffen, added: “We look forward to working collaboratively with Sheffield Forgemasters to deliver a facility of such national significance, which will not only help support UK industries for generations to come but also support the local economy in South Yorkshire.

“This contract award showcases our talented workforce’s ability to manage large-scale, complex construction projects. It strengthens our growing reputation as a construction partner of choice for clients in the advanced manufacturing and defence sectors.”

Sheffield Forgemasters’ 13,000t forging line and machine shop will create a new generation of engineers and designers trained to support the UK’s defence manufacturing sector.