What LBBC Technologies does

LBBC Technologies is a UK-based engineering company and division of the family-owned LBBC Group (legally Leeds and Bradford Boiler Co Ltd, founded 1876) that designs and manufactures industrial autoclave systems for the global investment casting industry. Its core products are the Boilerclave® mold dewaxing autoclave (in market for over 50 years), the Core Leaching Autoclave for ceramic core removal, and the Quicklock® pressure containment door, supplemented by the LC450HPHT high-pressure/high-temperature core removal system. Customers are predominantly aerospace turbine blade foundries, defense/marine contractors, and industrial casting companies, with named relationships including Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems (submarine hatches and watertight doors), Precision Castparts, Tech Castings, and Zollern & Comandita.

The company generates revenue primarily through one-time sales of bespoke capital equipment (equipment can be custom-built up to 6' deep and 3' diameter working envelope), complemented by professional services revenue from installation, training, maintenance, breakdown support, and spares across the installed base. A subscription-style recurring layer was added in 2022 with Connected Support, a real-time diagnostic platform for remote monitoring. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set per specification. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting aerospace, defense, and industrial casting buyers, with 70-80% of production exported to the USA, Russia, China, Asia, and Europe via direct sales plus formalized channel partnerships with Eagle Engineered Solutions and Beehive Industries in North America. Marketing is concentrated on industry conferences (EICF, ICI, GIFA, World Conference Investment Casting), technical publications, and enterprise adviser networks.

Operations run from a 15,000 sq ft purpose-built facility in Stanningley, Leeds, opened in 2014 at a £1.5M investment supported by a £130,000 LEP grant. The company holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ASME U/S/UM stamps, Cyber Essentials, Safecontractor, and a China Manufacturing License for pressure vessels. The LBBC Group encompasses LBBC Technologies, LBBC Beechwood, LBBC Baskerville (acquired 2015), and LBBC Resomation, with current leadership including fifth-generation family Managing Director Howard Pickard and Director Robert Pickard alongside newly hired Sales and Commercial Director Dave Haslehurst.

Name

LBBC Technologies

Legal name

Leeds and Bradford Boiler Co Ltd

Website

https://lbbctechnologies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LBBC Technologies is a UK-based engineering firm, division of family-owned LBBC Group (founded 1876), that designs and manufactures industrial autoclave systems for the global investment casting industry, supplying aerospace, defense, and industrial foundry customers in over 25 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Autoclave and Pressure Vessel Equipment

NAICS

Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing (33242), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567), Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures (3430)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fuel Cycle Chemical & Process Equipment (Cylinders, autoclaves, fluorination systems) (EUAKACAI)

Keywords

• Pressure vessel engineering
• Industrial autoclave systems
• Ceramic core removal
• Investment casting equipment
• High pressure manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Stanningley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Autoclave Equipment Sales: Sale of bespoke industrial autoclave systems including Boilerclave®, Core Leaching Autoclaves, and pressure containment equipment. Equipment ranges from standard models to custom large-sized units up to 6' deep and 3' diameter working envelope.
2. Service and Support Contracts: Service agreements, maintenance, breakdown support, and spares supply for installed equipment. Includes installation, operator training, and scheduled servicing throughout equipment lifetime.
3. Connected Support Software: Real-time diagnostic and remote monitoring services for customer equipment using proprietary Connected Support platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LBBC Technologies designs and manufactures industrial autoclaves and pressure vessels used in investment casting, ceramic core removal, and dewaxing processes for aerospace, defense, and industrial foundry customers. Its product range includes the Boilerclave® autoclave dewaxing system, Core Leaching Autoclaves, the Quicklock® pressure containment door, and the LC450HPHT HPHT autoclave, supported by the Connected Support remote diagnostics platform.

Product overview

LBBC Technologies offers a portfolio of industrial autoclave systems and related equipment for the investment casting industry. The core product line consists of the Boilerclave® for mold dewaxing, the Core Leaching Autoclave for ceramic core removal, and the Quicklock® Door for pressure containment. These products work together in investment casting processes, with the Boilerclave handling dewaxing and the Core Leaching Autoclave performing ceramic core dissolution. The Quicklock Door provides rapid, safe access to pressure vessels. An additional offering is Connected Support, a real-time diagnostic software system that enables remote monitoring and maintenance support for the equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Boilerclave: Industry-leading autoclave dewaxing equipment for investment casting applications
• Core Leaching Autoclave
• Quicklock Door
• Connected Support
• LC450HPHT
• LC450

Products and services

• Boilerclave® Autoclave Dewaxing System Proprietary autoclave system designed for the dewaxing stage of the investment casting process, used by aerospace, defense, and industrial foundries to remove wax patterns from ceramic shell molds under controlled pressure and temperature.
• Core Leaching Autoclave Autoclave system engineered for ceramic core removal (leaching) from cast components, primarily serving aerospace and industrial investment casting operations that require controlled chemical dissolution of internal ceramic cores.
• Quicklock® Pressure Containment Door Proprietary quick-release pressure containment door designed for industrial autoclaves and pressure vessels, providing fast access while maintaining pressure seal integrity for safety-critical operations.
• LC450HPHT Ceramic Core Removal Autoclave High-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) autoclave designed for demanding ceramic core removal processes in advanced investment casting, suitable for complex aerospace superalloy components.
• Connected Support Real-time remote diagnostics and monitoring platform for installed LBBC autoclave and pressure vessel equipment, enabling predictive maintenance, performance visibility, and faster service response for industrial customers.
• Custom Pressure Vessel Engineering and Manufacturing Bespoke design, engineering, and manufacture of pressure vessels to customer specifications, leveraging the company's heritage as the Leeds and Bradford Boiler Company and its pressure-vessel code expertise for industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ceramic cores traditionally removed in days can now be removed in hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Beehive IndustriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 July 2022Beehive Industries serves as LBBC Technologies' US sales and support representative, sharing booth space at ICI conferences. Beehive Industries is a global provider of 3D printed patterns and cores for metal casting, investment casting, and sand foundry industries with over 150 years of collective industry experience.
• Eagle Engineered Solutions InccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 October 2020Eagle Engineered Solutions Inc (Medina, Ohio) serves as LBBC Technologies' North American sales and support representative. The partnership was formalized in 2020 following a long-standing working relationship and Eagle's purchase of the LC450 core leaching autoclave. Eagle brings over 100 years of collective experience in metal casting, investment casting, and sand foundry industries.
• Rolls-RoycecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partnership with Rolls-Royce including equipment supply for Advanced Blades Casting Facility and co-sponsored Post Graduate Doctoral Studentship through University of Birmingham. LBBC supplies Boilerclaves® and Core Leaching Autoclaves for turbine blade manufacturing.
• University of LeedsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) collaboration with University of Leeds. LBBC worked with the university using its expertise and facilities to develop new coating technology. Partnership supported by Innovate UK and Manufacturing Advisory Service.
• University of BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored Post Graduate Doctoral Studentship through University of Birmingham's four-year engineering doctorate programme. Research focused on investigating physics and chemistry of investment casting core removal process to enhance industrial application.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher's Barnstead brand manufactures laboratory autoclaves and sterilizers. Comparable as autoclave manufacturing expertise though primarily serving laboratory rather than industrial investment casting customers.
• STERIS: STERIS is a global leader in sterilization and infection prevention, including industrial autoclave systems through its AMSCO and legacy brands. Comparable as a major autoclave manufacturer serving regulated industries, though broader portfolio and far larger scale than LBBC's niche investment casting focus.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries manufactures industrial pressure vessels, boilers, and process equipment for energy, chemical, and industrial customers globally. Comparable in pressure vessel manufacturing capability, though vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• JBT (Avure Technologies): JBT Avure manufactures high-pressure processing (HPP) equipment and autoclaves for food, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Comparable in pressure vessel and high-pressure processing technology, though focused on HPP food processing versus LBBC's investment casting niche.

Direct peers

• Consolidated Pressure Systems: Consolidated Pressure Systems manufactures autoclaves and pressure vessels for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications including composite curing and high-pressure processing. Comparable to LBBC's industrial autoclave focus serving advanced manufacturing customers.
• ASC Process Systems: ASC Process Systems designs and manufactures autoclave systems for aerospace composite curing and industrial processing. Directly comparable to LBBC as both specialize in bespoke autoclaves serving aerospace and advanced manufacturing customers.
• LTE Scientific: LTE Scientific manufactures autoclaves and sterilizers for laboratory, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications from a UK base. Comparable to LBBC's UK-based autoclave manufacturing heritage and pressure vessel engineering expertise.
• Priorclave: Priorclave is a UK-based autoclave manufacturer specializing in laboratory and industrial steam sterilizers and pressure vessels. Comparable to LBBC in autoclave manufacturing expertise and UK industrial base, though focused on laboratory/sterilization rather than investment casting.
• Scholz Autoclave Technology: Scholz is a German manufacturer of industrial autoclaves and pressure vessels for composite curing, rubber vulcanization, and aerospace applications. Directly comparable to LBBC in bespoke industrial autoclave manufacturing for advanced manufacturing customers.

Others

• Eagle Engineered Solutions: Eagle Engineered Solutions is LBBC's North American channel partner for sales and support. While primarily a distributor/representative rather than manufacturer, Eagle brings 100+ years of investment casting industry experience and supports LBBC's autoclave offerings alongside its own foundry solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LBBCTechnologies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lbbc-technologies

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 LBBC Technologies