Vinci Building has signed a £138m contract to build a 12,700 square metre open-die forge in Sheffield for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The firm has been appointed as delivery partner on the scheme, which will create the UK’s largest such facility at Sheffield Forgemasters, a steel component manufacturing complex that was nationalised in 2021.
A 40 metre tall building will house a new 13,000 tonne press to replace the existing 10,000 tonne press, installed in the 1950s and last upgraded in the 1980s.
The new building is part of a £400m recapitalisation programme to upgrade the site over 10 years.
Vinci Building North East regional director Chris Winspear said: “Our team is making great progress on the new facilities which will deliver on UK defence commitments and support our social value commitments in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
“The project further enhances our portfolio in this sector and, once complete, will deliver a fantastic manufacturing facility.”
A new machining facility that would house some of the world’s largest five-axis vertical turning lathes has also been proposed.
Sheffield Forgemasters was nationalised in 2021 in a £2.6m deal with the MoD, to secure the supplies of specialist steel for defence applications.
Vinci Building was appointed in 2022 on an early works contract and preconstruction services agreement at the site worth more than £70m.
Forgemasters previously appointed consultancy Turner & Townsend as another delivery-support partner.
Turner & Townsend will provide services including project management, programme controls, digital solutions, advisory services and health and safety.
Vinci Building managing director John Roberts said: “Signing this contract brings together three years of tireless work by the team to develop the design and price for Sheffield Forgemasters.
“It gives us the opportunity to step up our social value activities to deliver a positive legacy for the people of Sheffield. I look forward to seeing progress in the coming months.”
