ALWAYSE Engineering

What ALWAYSE Engineering does

ALWAYSE Engineering Limited is a Birmingham-headquartered specialist manufacturer of ball transfer units (BTUs), mechanical components that enable 360-degree multi-directional movement of loads from light to 12,000kg without external power sources such as electricity or hydraulics. Founded in 1940, the firm operates an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing facility in Birmingham and produces a full standard range alongside fully custom-engineered BTUs built directly into OEM machines; its portfolio also extends to ball tables, ball decks, forklift and scissor-lift ball platforms, racking shelving systems, die lifters, glide strips, installation tooling and accessories. Customer segments are horizontal, with primary use cases in manufacturing and assembly, logistics and distribution, and secondary use cases in airport and aviation handling and glass and building materials; named customers include Pilkington, Lodige, HGG, FedEx, Dip Tech, Atlas Copco, Arup, and Vanderlande.

Revenue is generated through four streams: hardware sales of BTUs (direct and through distribution), custom design engineering services, after-market maintenance, and fitting services. The go-to-market relies on a worldwide authorized distributor network spanning 70+ countries (including partners such as RS Components, SKF, Bondy, and Internordic), supplemented by direct enterprise sales out of Birmingham via the company website, Brief Builder configuration tool, and phone sales. Pricing is quote-based, varies by specification, load rating and customization, and is not publicly disclosed. Marketing is driven by technical content (blog, information hub, case studies, sector pages), a LinkedIn presence and email newsletter, alongside industry-event presence. The firm has no public ticker, no disclosed subsidiaries, and shows no external funding history; limited corporate signals (UK Tax Strategy Statement referencing Lifco Group UK) suggest potential affiliation with a larger holding group, but ownership is not confirmed.

Name

ALWAYSE Engineering

Legal name

Alwayse Engineering Limited

Website

https://alwayse.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ALWAYSE Engineering Limited is a Birmingham, UK-based specialist manufacturer founded in 1940 that designs, produces and services ball transfer units and adjacent material handling platforms for industrial manufacturers, logistics operators, airport handlers and glass producers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ball Transfer Unit Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling ball transfer units - mechanical components for material handling. Units range from standard products to custom-engineered solutions. Sales are made directly and through a global distributor network.
2. Custom Design Services: Engineering and design services for custom ball transfer solutions tailored to specific customer requirements and applications.
3. Maintenance Services: Aftermarket maintenance services for existing ball transfer installations, providing ongoing revenue from the installed customer base.
4. Fitting Services: Installation and fitting services for ball transfer units and related products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ALWAYSE Engineering manufactures and sells ball transfer units (BTUs) — mechanical components that enable 360-degree multi-directional movement of materials and products without requiring electricity or hydraulics. The product portfolio spans standard roller ball tables, ball decks, forklift and scissor lift ball platforms, racking/shelving integrations, die lifters, glide strips, and installation tools/accessories. Revenue is generated through hardware product sales, custom-engineered solutions, and supporting design, maintenance, and fitting services distributed via a worldwide network of authorised distributors.

Product overview

ALWAYSE Engineering is a specialist manufacturer of ball transfer units and material handling solutions based in Birmingham, UK, operating since 1940. The core product portfolio centers on ball transfer units—mechanical components that enable 360-degree multi-directional movement without power, handling loads from light to 12,000kg. The product range includes standard roller ball tables, ball decks, and specialized platforms (forklift ball platform, scissor lift ball platform), complemented by installation tools, accessories (ball unit foot stop), and custom solutions. The offering extends to dedicated racking/shelving systems with integrated ball transfers. Supporting the hardware portfolio are engineering services including design, maintenance, and fitting. The company operates on a direct product plus add-on modules architecture, where customers can select standard units or configure custom solutions tailored to specific industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ball Transfer Units (Standard Range) Mechanical ball transfer units that enable 360-degree multi-directional movement of materials without electricity or hydraulics. Available in load ratings from light-duty to 12,000kg per unit for industrial material handling.
• Alwayse Standard Roller Ball Tables Pre-engineered roller ball tables providing smooth, multi-directional movement for material handling and assembly operations in industrial settings.
• Alwayse Standard Ball Decks Standard ball decks (ball floors) designed for efficient multi-directional material movement across various industrial applications.
• Alwayse Forklift Ball Platform Specialised ball transfer platform designed for forklift integration to enable efficient heavy-load movement in industrial environments.
• Scissor Lift Ball Platform Ball transfer platform integrated with a scissor lift mechanism for enhanced material handling versatility and adjustable-height positioning.
• Ball Transfer Unit Installation Tool Specialised tool designed to facilitate efficient and accurate installation of ball transfer units in customer equipment.
• Ball Unit Foot Stop Safety accessory designed to secure ball transfer units and prevent unintended movement during operation.
• Ball Transfer Unit Shelving for Racking Racking and shelving system integrated with ball transfer units for efficient storage and retrieval operations in warehousing and logistics.
• Custom Ball Transfer Units Fully custom-engineered ball transfer solutions designed to meet specific application requirements, including units built directly into customer machinery for unique operational challenges.
• Ball Transfer Design Services Expert engineering design services for custom ball transfer solutions tailored to specific operational requirements of industrial customers.
• Ball Transfer Maintenance Services Maintenance services to ensure optimal performance and longevity of installed ball transfer equipment for existing ALWAYSE customers.
• Ball Transfer Unit Fitting Services Professional fitting and installation services for ball transfer units, supporting deployment into customer production lines and machinery.
• Die Lifters and Tee Blocks Heavy-duty die lifters and tee blocks designed for industrial metal forming and fabrication applications.
• Glide Strips Low-friction glide strips providing smooth material movement and reduced handling resistance for industrial applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Handles loads up to 12,000kg
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BondyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.
• TuliminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.
• Bil GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.
• ParnellsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.
• InternordicminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship for Nordic region.
• Movi RuedasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.
• RS (RS Components)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. RS Components is a global distributor of industrial and electronic components.
• CasautominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.
• SKFminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. SKF is a global bearing and motion control company.
• DrasarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.
• Bench MasterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.
• HatgrupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.
• RodriguezminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner company with logo displayed on the website. Nature of partnership appears to be distribution/reseller relationship.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Caster Concepts: US manufacturer of heavy-duty industrial casters and material handling equipment. Overlaps with Alwayse in heavy-load applications and custom-engineered solutions.
• Tente International: German-headquartered global manufacturer of mobility solutions including casters and ball transfer units. A direct competitor in industrial material handling with comparable product range and global distribution.
• RWM Casters: Manufacturer of heavy-duty industrial casters and material handling equipment including ball transfer products. Overlaps with Alwayse in industrial and logistics applications.
• Colson Group: Global manufacturer of casters, wheels, and mobility products including ball transfer units. Competes with Alwayse in industrial material handling applications across logistics, manufacturing, and distribution.
• Schunk: German manufacturer of ball transfer units and gripping systems. Directly competes with Alwayse in industrial ball transfer units across European and global markets, serving similar OEM and manufacturing customers.
• HepcoMotion: UK-based manufacturer of linear motion products, including ball transfer units and slide systems. A direct competitor in the British and European material handling market with overlapping product portfolios and customer base.
• Carter Manufacturing: Manufacturer of ball transfer units and material handling components. A direct competitor in the ball transfer unit category serving similar industrial OEM customers.
• Hamilton Caster & Manufacturing: US-based manufacturer of industrial casters, wheels, and ball transfer units. Competitor in heavy-duty material handling solutions with similar customization capabilities and target end markets.

Broad incumbents

• Regal Rexnord: Large US-listed manufacturer of power transmission, bearings, and motion control products. While not specializing in ball transfer units, overlaps in motion control and material handling component markets.

Regional players

• SMB Bearings: UK-based specialist bearing supplier and distributor. Operates in adjacent bearing and motion component markets, primarily serving UK and European customers similar to Alwayse's regional footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alwayse

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ALWAYSE Engineering