Forged in Sheffield…

Left to right: James Oates (Regional Sales Manager), Darren Pryce (Sales Director), Shane Higgins (Field Sales), Benn Beardshaw (Managing Director)

Left to right: James Oates (Regional Sales Manager), Darren Pryce (Sales Director), Shane Higgins (Field Sales), Benn Beardshaw (Managing Director)

Published: 27th March 2018 | Issue 44 Share article:

Sheffield based forge & raw material experts, Special Quality Alloys Ltd, have a proven track record of manufacturing critical steel products for the world’s most challenging industries.

Established in 1986, Special Quality Alloys Ltd is part of the Special Steel Group. From its own 4-acre site, the family owned company manufacture forgings, bar, rolled rings and machined components in a range of materials from Nickel Alloys, Duplex/Super Duplex, to Stainless Steels and Carbon/Low Alloys.

The NORSOK approved forge with 5 open die hammers and a ring mill will produce a range of products from heavy walled rings, blanks, blocks, and boss shapes.

In addition to the forging capabilities, the company is also a major stockholder with more than 1250 tonnes of pre-qualified finished bar stock on site in Sheffield.

The Special Steel Group evolved from the Special Steel Co Ltd which was originally founded in 1925. Through continuous investment the group has become one of the UK’s most successful private enterprises in the steel industry.

The company has a wealth of experience in supplying forged and round bar products for the Valve industry. Sales Director, Darren Pryce, explains “In my time with the company, I can remember SQA supplying forged seat rings for the BP Bruce field in the North Sea way back in the late 1980’s. Our involvement with the Oil & Gas industry in particular has continued throughout the decades. Most recently we have been supplying the raw materials for valves destined for the Chevron Gorgon project”

Sheffield, with its enriched history of steel making, is not short of stories passed through the generations.

”it has been a real change in fortunes over the years for the Steel industry” explains Benn Beardshaw, Managing Director. “SQA have only recently moved into the ‘Continental Works’ site which is directly opposite our previous home for the past 20 plus years”

In a twist of fate, the new site is the exact location of where Benn’s Great-Grandfather, Bennett Beardshaw set out on his career in the Sheffield Steel industry back in 1906. This was with the iconic tool steel manufacturer Jonas & Colver as a junior clerk in the accounts department. After 18 years of service, Bennett suggested the company should venture into the heat treatment business. Unconvinced of this, he was invited to leave and in May of 1925 he set up the Special Steel Co Ltd only half a mile away which is still the site of the head office.

“It is quite something to be the second Bennett Beardshaw to be walking through the same offices almost 100 years later. As a family, we’d love to know what he’d think of the business he started now owning Continental Works!”

Having recently joined the BVAA, Special Quality Alloys Ltd are looking forward to working with its other members.

Tel: +44 (0) 114 243 4366
Email: sales@specialqualityalloys.com
Web: www.specialqualityalloys.com

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