Sheffield Forgemasters has invested £160,000 in new milling equipment to expand the pattern making capabilities of its project management company, Vulcan SFM.
The 25ft x 35ft CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) milling machine will create complex, three dimensional, wooden patterns, which are used to form the sand moulds for Forgemasters' steel castings.

Pattern shop manager Geoff Spriggs said: "The new machine will significantly improve the capacity of the company to handle smaller, more specialised jobs as well as the traditional huge patterns we currently make.

"Historically the company has used traditional pattern making skills to make our patterns. This investment will allow us to use this brand new process to increase our pattern making output, particularly on the smaller size patterns."

As part of the investment, skilled pattern maker Andrew Harnston is now being taught how to create computer models, which the machine uses to carve the finished pattern out of a block of wood or composite material.

The new CNC machine is part of an ongoing investment programme to install new plant and refurbish existing machinery, which is being masterminded by Vulcan SFM, the Forgemasters' subsidiary that specialises in design, manufacturing and project management. Other investments include the installation of a £250,000 Italian-made bandsaw in the south machine shop, the re-design and rebuild of a large 1960s lathe, extensive repairs to forge cranes and the manufacture and installation of a Snow grinder in the melting shop.

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