Leading metal presswork specialist HT Brigham & Co Ltd has announced a significant enhancement to its manufacturing capabilities with the strategic refurbishment of a 250-ton Rhodes progression press. This investment marks a decisive step in strengthening the company’s metal forming operations and increasing capacity across its production lines. The move is set to bolster uptime resilience and directly supports growing customer demand by ensuring greater reliability, flexibility, and throughput in high-volume pressing applications.
Speaking about this development, Doug Allen, Chief Executive of HT Brigham, whose extensive background in aerospace manufacturing underscores a commitment to both strategy and operational excellence, articulated the company’s vision. “At the core of our Brigham Operating System (BOS) is the understanding that for our people to thrive – and they are the bedrock of our success – we must provide them with the optimal environment and the best tools,” Allen states, echoing the foundational principle of BOS that a positive environment nurtures thriving individuals, leading to optimised processes and fulfilled organisational purpose.
The investment follows a management buyout in 2022 and represents a broader strategic vision driven by data-led decision-making and continuous performance analysis. The revitalisation of the Rhodes press—an industrial workhorse in high-volume, multi-stage forming operations—further enables Brigham to execute complex metal forming processes with increased consistency, reduced downtime, and enhanced flexibility. This decision not only extends the operational life of a critical asset but also future-proofs the company’s production capabilities against shifting market dynamics and increasingly stringent quality demands.
With over 75 years of experience in delivering metal pressings across a spectrum of volumes and applications, HT Brigham’s reputation for precision and dependability is deeply rooted in its evolution from a single-hand-press workshop to a modern facility equipped for global supply. The refurbishment of the Rhodes press is a testament to that heritage, marrying long-established manufacturing know-how with a commitment to innovation. It reflects a blend of legacy and agility—an approach that allows the company to scale with confidence while maintaining tight tolerances and repeatability in demanding production environments.
This investment also reinforces HT Brigham’s ability to provide uninterrupted, high-volume output—a critical requirement in sectors where supply chain continuity and production reliability are non-negotiable.
Ultimately, the Rhodes press refurbishment serves as a clear signal of HT Brigham’s long-term commitment to advancing the standards of metal presswork. Through strategic investment, technical refinement, and operational foresight, the company remains firmly positioned at the forefront of UK manufacturing.