Smiths High Performance
Smiths High Performance is a UK-headquartered, Tier-1 stockholder and supplier of advanced engineering alloys and plastics to the global motorsport sector, including Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR, MotoGP, WEC and WRC teams and sub-contractors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersBiggleswade, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Smiths High Performance does
Smiths High Performance is a specialist stockholder and Tier-1 supply-chain partner supplying advanced engineering alloys and plastics to the global motorsport sector, including Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR, MotoGP, the World Endurance Championship and the World Rally Championship. The portfolio spans aluminium (commercial, high-performance and aluminium-lithium grades), beryllium copper, brass and copper, carbon fibre plates, magnesium, nickel superalloys (Inconel, Nimonic, Nitronic, MP35N), niobium, stainless and maraging steels, titanium (including proprietary SHP grades) and PEEK-based polymers, with optional in-house processing services and a UKAS-accredited materials testing laboratory staffed by three full-time metallurgists.
Underlying technology includes a unique-barcode traceability system applied at intake, XRF positive-material-identification scanning, and a proprietary bespoke IT platform developed continuously over 20 years that runs hundreds of automated checks across order processing and inventory management. Operations are anchored at the UK headquarters in Biggleswade and a 2024-opened regional facility in Maranello, Italy, supported by multilingual technical sales representatives across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Japan and the USA.
Revenue is generated through one-time sales of stocked engineering materials combined with a managed-services revenue stream called Bespoke Supply Solutions (BSS), which packages stockholding, processing, custom labelling, inventory management and JIT line-side delivery into integrated supply contracts. The company is a private business unit of Smiths Metal Centres Ltd, an affiliation that confers group-level purchasing power and access to an extensive UK distribution network. Pricing is quote-based with no public list, and the company is certified to ISO 9001:2015, EN 9120:2018 and ISO 14001:2015.
Smiths High Performance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smiths High Performance
- Legal name
- Smiths High Performance
- Website
- https://smithshp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Smiths High Performance is a UK-headquartered, Tier-1 stockholder and supplier of advanced engineering alloys and plastics to the global motorsport sector, including Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR, MotoGP, WEC and WRC teams and sub-contractors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smiths High Performance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- High-Performance Engineering Materials
- NAICS
- Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (3312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aerospace Structural Metals & Alloys (Titanium, Aluminum, Nickel) (IMABANAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Steel Service Centers & Processing (Slitting, Cut-to-Length, Blanking, Leveling) (IMAKABAL), Steel Products Trading & Service Centers (Flat, Long, Pipe & Tube, Rebar) (IMAKAJAB)
Keywords
Where Smiths High Performance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Biggleswade
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Smiths High Performance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Engineering Materials Sales: Sale of advanced engineering materials including high-performance alloys and plastics to the global motorsport sector. Products are stocked and supplied to motorsport companies operating in Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR, Moto GP, WEC and WRC.
- Bespoke Supply Solutions (BSS): Customized supply packages combining stockholding, processing services, inventory management, and value-added services such as custom labelling, processing options, and just-in-time delivery to manufacturing lines.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for engineering materials |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Smiths High Performance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smiths High Performance is a Tier 1 international stockholder and supplier of advanced engineering materials, stocking and distributing high-performance alloys (aluminium, titanium, nickel superalloys, magnesium, beryllium copper, brass, stainless steel, steel, niobium) and engineering plastics (PEEK-based) to the global motorsport sector. The company complements materials supply with processing services, bespoke supply solutions (BSS), full material traceability, and an in-house UKAS-accredited materials testing laboratory.
Product overview
Smiths High Performance is a leading international stockholder and supplier of advanced engineering materials to the global motorsport sector. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance alloys and plastics through its single unified product offering. Their core materials include aluminium alloys (spanning commercial, high-performance, and aluminium lithium grades), beryllium copper alloys, brass and copper alloys, carbon fibre plates, high-performance plastics (PEEK-based), magnesium alloys, nickel superalloys (including Inconel, Nimonic, Nitronic, and MP35N grades), niobium, stainless steel alloys (standard and precipitation-hardening), steel alloys (maraging, high-performance, and engineering grades), and titanium alloys. The company operates primarily as a materials supplier serving Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR, MotoGP, WEC, and WRC motorsport markets, providing fully traceable engineering raw materials with optional in-house processing services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aluminium Alloys High-performance aluminium alloys including commercial grades, high-performance grades, and aluminium lithium grades for motorsport applications. Includes grades such as 2014, 2024, 3003, 5083, 6061, 6082, 7050, 7055, 7075 and specialised high-performance variants (2040, 2618A, 4032, 7068, SupremEX 225XE) plus aluminium lithium grades (2055-T84, 2070, 2099, 8090, Airware 2050, Airware 2198-T8). For motorsport engineering teams and sub-contractors.
- Beryllium Copper Alloys Beryllium copper alloys including Alloy 10X, Alloy 25, and C17510 for high-strength applications requiring good conductivity. For motorsport engineering applications.
- Brass & Copper Alloys Brass and copper alloys including C101, C110, CW724R, PerforMet, and ToughMet 3 for various engineering applications. For motorsport engineering applications.
- Carbon Fibre Plates Carbon fibre plates for lightweight, high-strength motorsport applications. For motorsport engineering teams and sub-contractors.
- High Performance Plastics (PEEK) High-performance engineering plastics including VICTREX PEEK 450G, Peek CF30, Peek GF30, and Peek PVE for demanding engineering applications requiring excellent thermal and chemical resistance. For motorsport engineering applications.
- Magnesium Alloys Magnesium alloys including AZ31B, Elektron 43, Elektron 675, and WE54 offering excellent weight reduction potential for motorsport. For motorsport engineering applications.
- Nickel SuperAlloys Nickel superalloys including Inconel 625, Inconel 718, MP35N, Nimonic 80A, Nimonic 90, Nimonic 115, Nitronic 30, Nitronic 50, and Nitronic 60 for high-temperature applications. For motorsport engineering applications.
- Niobium C103 Niobium C103 alloy for specialised high-temperature applications in motorsport engineering. For motorsport engineering applications.
- Stainless Steel Alloys Stainless steel alloys including high-performance grades (431, 440C) and precipitation-hardening grades (13-8PH, 15-5PH, 17-4PH). For motorsport engineering applications.
- Steel Alloys Comprehensive steel alloy range including maraging steel (C250, C300, C350), high-performance steel (15CDV6, 32CDV13, 300M, BS S99, BS S106, BS S132, BS S156, Ferrium C61, Ferrium C64, H11, M50, NC310YW) and engineering steel (EN16, EN24, EN40B). For motorsport engineering applications.
- Titanium Alloys Titanium alloys including commercial and high-performance grades: 6242, 6246, 6554, 834, CR14, SHP 38-644, SHP 644, Ti3Al2.5V (Gr9), and Ti6Al4V (Gr5). For motorsport engineering applications.
- Bespoke Supply Solutions (BSS) Customised supply packages combining stockholding, processing services, inventory management and value-added services such as custom labelling, processing options, and just-in-time delivery to manufacturing lines. For motorsport engineering teams and sub-contractors requiring integrated supply chain support.
- UKAS Accredited Materials Testing Laboratory Internal technical service department including UKAS accredited testing laboratory with three full-time metallurgists providing comprehensive metallurgical support and materials testing services. For motorsport engineering teams and sub-contractors requiring verification of material grade and properties.
Companies that use Smiths High Performance
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Smiths High Performance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Smiths High Performance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- AuditelcoreThree-year partnership with Auditel, a leading UK carbon footprint and supply chain consultancy, to support Smiths High Performance's journey to Net Zero by 2030. Auditel provides independent verification of carbon neutrality through a structured carbon maturity model with annual improvements. Auditel is an associate partner of NQA, associate advisor of BSI, and corporate partner of IEMA.
- Smiths Metal Centres LtdflagshipSmiths High Performance is a business unit of Smiths Metal Centres Ltd, established in 2001 to serve a small number of existing customers requiring specific product ranges and partnership-level service. The affiliation provides significant advantages including group purchasing power for bulk buying at best prices, access to extensive material distribution networks across UK, and comprehensive capabilities from procurement to metallurgy.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Smiths High Performance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Aperam: Stainless and specialty alloy producer and distributor with European manufacturing footprint. Operates higher in the supply chain than SHP but competes for the same specialty stainless and engineering alloy business, including automotive/motorsport.
- ThyssenKrupp Materials Services: One of the world's largest metals service center groups, supplying carbon steel, stainless, aluminium, and specialty alloys with global warehousing and processing. A broader incumbent that competes on scale, breadth, and mill relationships across many of the same end-segments.
Direct peers
- A.M. Castle & Co. North American specialty metals distributor serving aerospace, defense, and industrial OEMs with processing and supply-chain services. Comparable metals distribution model and customer base in performance-driven sectors.
- Smiths Metal Centres Ltd: Parent company of Smiths High Performance and broader metals stockholder/distributor. Same distribution-led operating model and alloy categories, but sold across general industrial rather than motorsport customers, giving it deep operational and procurement overlap with SHP.
- TW Metals: Global specialty metals distributor (a ThyssenKrupp subsidiary) supplying tube, bar, and engineered alloys to aerospace, motorsport, and industrial markets. Direct comparator on breadth of specialty alloy catalog and processing services.
- Aerocom Metals Ltd: UK-based specialist stockholder of aluminium, titanium, and nickel alloys serving aerospace and motorsport customers. Closest direct competitor to SHP in terms of product mix (high-performance alloys) and customer profile (motorsport tier suppliers).
- Righton Metals Limited: UK metal stockholder and distributor operating a multi-branch network supplying aerospace, motorsport, and industrial customers. Comparable service-center/distributor business model and partial specialty-alloy overlap.
- Walter Metals UK: UK stockholder and processor of stainless, aluminium, and engineering steels serving industrial and OEM customers. Adjacent direct peer with similar stock-and-process service center model.
Emerging players
- Materion Corporation: Specialty alloys producer notably strong in beryllium-copper alloys (e.g., Alloy 25, C17510) directly listed in the SHP catalog. Overlaps with SHP on beryllium-copper, advanced aluminium, and high-temperature alloys supplied into motorsport and adjacent aerospace markets.
- Carpenter Technology Corporation: US-based specialty alloys manufacturer producing high-performance nickel, cobalt, titanium, and stainless alloys for aerospace and motorsport. Functions partly as a mill-level supplier to SHP and partly as an indirect competitor for end-customers' specification wins.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Smiths High Performance social profiles
Digital presenceSmiths High Performance compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Smiths High Performance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smiths High Performance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Smiths High Performance subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Smiths High Performance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smiths High Performance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smiths High Performance
What does Smiths High Performance do?
Smiths High Performance is a Tier 1 international stockholder and supplier of advanced engineering materials, stocking and distributing high-performance alloys (aluminium, titanium, nickel superalloys, magnesium, beryllium copper, brass, stainless steel, steel, niobium) and engineering plastics (PEEK-based) to the global motorsport sector. The company complements materials supply with processing services, bespoke supply solutions (BSS), full material traceability, and an in-house UKAS-accredited materials testing laboratory.
Is Smiths High Performance a public or private company?
Smiths High Performance is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Smiths High Performance founded?
Smiths High Performance was founded in 2001.
Where is Smiths High Performance based?
Smiths High Performance is headquartered in Biggleswade, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Smiths High Performance make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Engineering Materials Sales are the primary driver. The others are bespoke Supply Solutions (BSS).
Who are Smiths High Performance's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Aperam and ThyssenKrupp Materials Services. Direct peers are A.M. Castle & Co., Smiths Metal Centres Ltd, TW Metals, Aerocom Metals Ltd, Righton Metals Limited and Walter Metals UK. Emerging players are Materion Corporation and Carpenter Technology Corporation.
Does Smiths High Performance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smiths High Performance.
What industry is Smiths High Performance in?
Smiths High Performance's product category is High-Performance Engineering Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABANAL, Aerospace Structural Metals & Alloys (Titanium, Aluminum, Nickel), with a secondary code of IMAKABAL, Steel Service Centers & Processing (Slitting, Cut-to-Length, Blanking, Leveling). Its NAICS code is 3312.