INDUSTRY NEWS
£ 500,000 press investment at MACH
A major deal was completed at the MACH 2026 exhibition in the UK on 22 April 2026, with Batten & Allen adopting Bruderer UK’ s latest high-speed press technology. The UK-based specialist in stamping, plating and assembly of precision parts has invested £ 500,000 into Bruderer’ s new BSTA 280- 88-B3 press, just a few days after the press made its debut at MACH 2026.
“ A major Mexican export order, to produce lead frames used in the development of AI chip sets, is destined to be the first highvolume project run through the new machine when it is installed over the next three weeks. This will utilise the press’ s unrivalled‘ micron’ precision and accuracy, with up to 1500 strokes per minute delivering the high volumes required by [ the company’ s ] international client,” Bruderer UK told ISMR. Equipped with the new BSV 170 servo feeder to support lights-out manufacturing, the BSTA 280-88 features the new B3 control system with an improved user interface.
“ We’ ve been working closely with the Bruderer technical team in Telford to prove out some of our tooling on the new machine and the results have been outstanding to date,” explained Shawn Batten, Chairman of Batten & Allen.“ This accelerated our decision to purchase the new machine. MACH 2026 seemed the perfect opportunity to agree the deal and secure a rapid install,
Above L-R: Adrian Haller( Bruderer UK), Rainer Hungerbühler( Bruderer), David Merchant and Shawn Batten( both Batten & Allen) at MACH 2026.
so that the technology is in place for the Mexico order and two further jobs for clients in Asia and North America.
“ Our components are used in some of the most advanced electronic applications, from AI chips and data centres to automotive and aerospace uses. The BSTA 280-88 is a very impressive machine and the B3 control has taken the user interface to the next level. We’ re also delighted to have worked with Bruderer on the development of its new servo feeder. The improvements, born out of real-world use, makes it the ideal ancillary equipment for thin-gauge material,” he said. The relationship between Bruderer UK and Batten & Allen goes back to 1974, when Bruderer unexpectedly delivered a second machine with the simple message:“ Pay for it when you start making money from it …” This gesture helped to get the fledgling engineering business off the ground. Some 52 years later, Batten & Allen specialises in reel-to-reel stamping and plating: it now employs 125 people and has seen sales rise to £ 25m this year.
The company has 22 Bruderer presses on its shop floor, with the possibility of another one in 2027 following a press shop reconfiguration. Together, these produce millions of parts every day for customers in 20 countries across five continents.
Adrian Haller, Managing Director, Bruderer UK, added:“ The full integration of press, feeder and tooling within a single manufacturing control environment is a game-changer. It will support Batten & Allen with existing work and new contracts in the data centre and artificial intelligence space.” Bruderer UK displayed three complete production lines running and making parts in real time. It also showcased vision system technology and an automated assembly line( feeding, welding, riveting and tapping) as well as a running multi-slide machine with box-changing facility for lights-out production.
www
. batten-allen. com
www. bruderer. co. uk
Trends in contract fabrication services
The global contract fabrication services market is being driven by increasing demand from sectors such as automotive, aerospace and electronics. Investment opportunities are expected to rise, said analyst TNR in a recent report, in sustainable manufacturing and automation technologies. Trends include growing customisation, IoT in fabrication processes and Industry 4.0.
“ Growing demand from downstream industries is increasing as companies across global regions continue to outsource fabrication to support capacity expansion and changing product designs. Contract fabricators are increasingly serving as strategic partners to OEMs who depend upon precision metal components, welded assemblies, structural subcomponents and enclosures to support new equipment development, infrastructure development and advanced industrial systems,” said analyst Grand View Research, in a separate report.
“ Innovation in the contract fabrication services market is supported by the growing
Examples of sheetmetal enclosures.
adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies such as CNC machining, robotic welding, laser cutting and automated forming equipment. Fabrication companies are also incorporating digital tools, process monitoring systems and precision engineering practices to enhance efficiency and product quality. These developments allow manufacturers to produce complex fabricated metal components with tighter tolerances, shorter production cycles and improved consistency across a wide range of industrial applications,” it continued.
“ Mergers and acquisitions in the market are increasing as companies seek to strengthen
Image: Shutterstock. com. production capabilities, expand geographic reach and enhance technical expertise. Larger fabrication firms and investment groups are acquiring specialised or regional providers to broaden their service offerings and reinforce supply chains. Such strategic transactions help companies to access new customers, adopt advanced technologies and improve operational performance in a highly competitive manufacturing environment,” added the analyst.
Regulations also play an important role in shaping the contract fabrication services market by enforcing strict standards related to quality, safety and environmental protection. Compliance with workplace safety rules and environmental regulations encourages companies to adopt safer machinery, better waste management practices and more efficient production processes. In industries such as aerospace, automotive and energy, strict certification and documentation requirements also influence fabrication methods and promote precision and quality control. n
16 | ismr. net | ISMR May 2026