What Aldermans does

Aldermans (legal entity Alderman Tooling Ltd) is a family-owned B2B metal fabrication and precision engineering subcontractor founded in 1969 in Plymouth, Devon, and now in its second generation of family ownership under Managing Director Karen Friendship. The company operates from a single integrated facility equipped with CNC and laser machinery (Amada fibre laser with lights-out capability running at 170 m/min, Amada turret punch with automatic sheet loading, Mazak lathes, Amada press brake, robotic welding), and offers 12 in-house processes including steel laser cutting, CNC turning and milling, welding (manual and robotic), metal folding, metal pressing, tube bending, punched parts, fastener inserting, powder coating, and product assembly and kitting. An in-house design team supports concept-to-production work using 3D CAD modelling and prototyping.

The company serves manufacturers across four primary verticals — automotive and rail, construction, energy and power generation, and IT and communications — and supplies named enterprise and mid-market customers including Alstom (rail), Plessey (LED lighting for agriculture), Vortok (railway maintenance), CareFlex (specialist healthcare seating), Rockwood Composites (aerospace), Vispring (luxury furniture), the National Trust (heritage), and Lighthouse Pools. It also operates a Jengu-branded portable handwashing station product line, developed and manufactured in-house. The business model is project-based contract manufacturing with bespoke quote-based pricing, sold via direct sales and website enquiries, primarily to UK manufacturers in the South West region.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the only disclosed capital structure item is a £350,000 Lloyds Bank hire purchase facility for CNC laser investment (2017). The company holds triple ISO certification (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018), JOSCAR registration for defence/aerospace/security supply, and Fit For Nuclear status, and has publicly committed to Carbon Net Zero by 2040 (aspirationally 2030) through the SWMAS Make It Net Zero programme.

Name

Aldermans

Legal name

Alderman Tooling Ltd

Website

https://aldermantooling.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aldermans (Alderman Tooling Ltd) is a family-owned B2B metal fabrication and precision engineering subcontractor founded in 1969 in Plymouth, UK, serving automotive, rail, construction, energy, and IT manufacturers with CNC laser cutting, machining, welding, and finishing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Metal Fabrication

NAICS

Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing (332312)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)

akta.pro primary industry

Sheet Metal & Ductwork Contracting (IMAFALAH)

Keywords

• Sheet metal fabrication
• Precision engineering
• CNC machining services
• Contract metal manufacturing
• Metal fabrication subcontractor

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Metal fabrication contract manufacturing: B2B contract metal fabrication services including sheet metal fabrication, precision engineering, and press work. Services range from bespoke designs to high-volume production. Revenue generated through project-based contracts with manufacturers across automotive, rail, construction, energy, and IT sectors.
2. Jengu portable handwashing stations: Product line of branded Jengu portable handwashing stations - innovative product developed and manufactured in-house.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aldermans is a Plymouth-based contract metal fabricator and precision engineer offering a comprehensive in-house suite of manufacturing processes including steel laser cutting, CNC punching, metal folding, manual and robotic welding, CNC turning, CNC milling, fastener inserting, powder coating, metal pressing, tube bending, and full product assembly/kitting. The company produces bespoke and high-volume precision metal components for UK manufacturers across automotive, rail, construction, energy, and IT/communications sectors, supported by an in-house design team using 3D CAD modelling.

Product overview

Aldermans is a sheet metal fabrication and precision engineering company offering a comprehensive suite of manufacturing processes including steel laser cutting, CNC turning, CNC milling, metal folding, welding (manual and robotic), punching, powder coating, assembly, and tube bending. Founded in 1969 and still family-owned, the company serves automotive, rail, construction, energy, and IT sectors with both standard fabrication services and bespoke product development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Steel Laser Cutting Precision steel laser cutting service using CNC-controlled fibre laser technology to produce intricate shapes with minimal waste, capable of cutting steel up to 22mm thick.
• Punched Metal Parts High-speed CNC turret punch production of metal parts with automatic sheet loading for consistency across both small and large volumes.
• Metal Folding Precision metal folding and press brake services creating clean bends and accurate dimensions, using the Amada EGB-1303ATCe press brake.
• Welding Services Expert manual welding services ensuring strong, durable joins for small projects and large-scale assemblies.
• Robotic Welding Advanced collaborative robotic welding system for enhanced production capacity and consistency.
• CNC Turning Precision CNC turning services using Mazak lathes for producing complex metal components with tight tolerances.
• CNC Milling Computer-controlled CNC milling using rotating cutting tools to remove material and shape workpieces to precise specifications.
• Inserting (Fasteners) Fastener inserting services ensuring strong, secure connections for durable and reliable assemblies.
• Powder Coating Professional powder coating services to enhance durability and appearance of metal products.
• Product Assembly & Kitting Full product assembly and kitting solutions ensuring components are delivered ready for use or sale.
• Metal Pressing Bespoke custom metal pressings providing tailored solutions requiring consistency in high volumes.
• Metal Tube Bending Tube bending services creating smooth and exact curves in metal tubing for structural and functional applications.
• Jengu Portable Handwashing Station Innovative branded portable hand washing station developed in-house by Aldermans, designed to make handwashing accessible and engaging for end users.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of students stated the National Manufacturing Day event encouraged them to consider a career in STEM
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SWMAS / Make It Net Zero programmecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2021Joined SWMAS Make It Net Zero programme delivered with CBN Expert, providing funded support for Carbon Net Zero journey. Programme includes carbon footprint measurement and reduction strategy.
• Becton DicksonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2017Provided Apprenticeship Levy support for one of Aldermans' new apprentices through local collaboration scheme.
• PermabanminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 March 2016Collaborated with Plymouth concrete floor firm Permaban on Six Sigma Yellow Belt training course for Aldermans staff.
• Shekinah (Ready for Work programme)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Since 2009, Aldermans has employed Ready for Work candidates through Shekinah, a local charity helping disadvantaged adults return to employment. Supported Mark and later Darryn to gain permanent employment.
• Business in the CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity behind the Ready for Work programme that Aldermans participates in.
• Plymouth Manufacturers' Group (PMG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAldermans is an active member of PMG. Karen Friendship serves as Chair of PMG. The group collaborates to raise awareness of manufacturing careers and shares expertise within the community.
• LEAD (Lean Education and Development)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining provider for Business Improvement Techniques programme and Continuous Workforce Development in lean, delivering recognized qualifications to Aldermans staff.
• Babcock InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor employer at Devonport Royal Dockyard improving gender diversity through training programmes. Works with Aldermans in promoting STEM careers in Plymouth.
• City College PlymouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides STEM education and support services. Partners with Aldermans for National Manufacturing Day events and student visits.
• Devon Contract WasteminorOthersSupplier supporting Aldermans National Manufacturing Day 2025 event with donations for student goodie bags.
• Righton Blackburns LimitedminorOthersSupplier supporting Aldermans National Manufacturing Day 2025 event with donations for student goodie bags.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hadley Group: UK-based manufacturer of cold roll-formed steel products and structural sections serving construction and infrastructure markets. Comparable customer base and contract metalwork manufacturing model with similar end-market exposure.
• voestalpine Metsec: UK structural steel framing manufacturer serving construction and infrastructure sectors. Operates a similar contract fabrication business model serving overlapping OEM and contractor customers in the UK.
• William Hare: UK-based structural steelwork fabricator serving construction, infrastructure, and industrial markets. Comparable scale and contract metalwork model, with similar bespoke fabrication workflow and customer types.
• WEC Group: UK steel fabrication group operating multiple sites across the country. Comparable contract metalwork services across construction, rail, and industrial customers with similar quality-driven positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Tata Steel UK: Major UK steel producer and downstream manufacturer with broader product portfolio. Operates in the same metal manufacturing space and serves UK customers, but at vastly larger integrated scale spanning primary steelmaking to downstream products.
• Hill & Smith Holdings: UK-listed group manufacturing steel products for infrastructure, construction, and utilities. Comparable customer base but operates at a much larger multi-site, multi-product portfolio scale with international exposure.
• voestalpine AG: Global Austrian steel and technology group with extensive metal processing divisions. Comparable metal manufacturing capabilities and customer verticals but operates at global industrial scale well beyond the regional contract fabricator model.

Others

• Amada: Japanese-headquartered global manufacturer of sheet metal machinery including laser cutters and turret punches. Aldermans operates Amada fibre laser and turret punch equipment, and Amada/Lloyds supported Aldermans' £350k laser investment — adjacent as a key equipment supplier.
• Bystronic: Swiss sheet metal processing equipment manufacturer serving fabrication shops globally. Comparable technology ecosystem (laser cutting, bending, automation) and customer base of metal fabrication shops, though operating as a machinery vendor rather than fabricator.
• Mazak: Japanese CNC machine tool manufacturer whose lathes and machining centres Aldermans operates. Adjacent as the equipment supplier for the same precision engineering workflow that underpins Aldermans' CNC turning and milling services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aldermantooling
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aldermans

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Aldermans