West Midlands manufacturer HT Brigham has welcomed renewed calls to accelerate investment in UK gigafactories, as the automotive sector positions itself for long-term growth in electric vehicle production.
The comments follow a statement from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) responding to the Commission on UK Gigafactories report, which highlighted the need for competitive energy costs, skills investment and domestic capability in critical materials to restore UK vehicle production to 1.3 million units a year by 2035.
For HT Brigham, which specialises in high-volume precision pressings, complex presswork and stamped components, the direction of travel is clear.
“Gigafactories for the UK represent an exciting investment in UK sovereign capability – they’re more about aligning the entire manufacturing ecosystem that supports modern vehicle production, than simply batteries alone” said Doug Allen, CEO of HT Brigham. “If the UK is serious about remaining a globally competitive automotive manufacturing hub, then investment has to extend beyond cell production into the supply chains that make large-scale, repeatable manufacturing possible.”
Allen said the SMMT’s focus on competitive operating conditions was particularly important for established manufacturers already supplying Tier 1 automotive customers.
“Our customers build production lines around reliability,” he said. “Whether it’s a conventional drivetrain or an electric platform, the fundamentals don’t change – pressings and stampings still have to arrive on time, to specification, and at volume. That’s where British manufacturers with deep process knowledge and disciplined systems can add real value.”
HT Brigham supplies pressed and stamped components in volumes ranging from tens of thousands to many millions, supporting programmes where consistency and uptime are critical. The business has continued to invest in press capacity, tooling capability and quality systems to ensure it can scale alongside customers as electrification accelerates.
As the UK automotive sector navigates its transition, HT Brigham believes that established expertise in presswork and high-integrity manufacturing will remain central to delivering the next generation of vehicles – electric or otherwise – at scale.