What Acetarc Engineering does

Acetarc Engineering is a UK-based, family-owned designer and manufacturer of foundry equipment, principally molten metal handling and pouring systems, headquartered in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Founded in 1967 by brothers Ken Harker and Peter Burrell (originally as Acetarc Welding & Engineering Co. Ltd.), the company relocated to the Atley Works site in 1977 and acquired the H Beck & Son ladle designs in 1969, forming the technical foundation of its current portfolio. It is now run by the second generation (Steven and Chris Harker, Anthony Burrell) and holds ISO 9001:2015 and CE certifications.

The core product portfolio centres on heavy-duty foundry ladles — the Workhorse range (capacities 450Kg to 75,000Kg) and the Westminster medium-duty range — together with proprietary bottom-pour assemblies, the SAFE-POUR battery-powered radio-controlled pouring system, gas-fired ladle pre-heaters with modulating flame control, lip-axis auto-pour units, treatment ladles for ductile (S.G.) iron, porous-plug desulphurisation ladles, monorail and crane systems, and cupola melting installations. Supporting capabilities include in-house AutoCAD design, gear cutting and precision machining via subsidiary Allan Green & Son (acquired 2011), and authorised UK dealership for TC/American Monorail track systems (since 2000). Approximately 70-80% of production is exported.

Commercially, Acetarc operates a quote-based, made-to-order business model serving foundries (ferrous and non-ferrous), water utilities and contractors, and general industrial fabrications markets. Distribution combines direct sales from Keighley with a network of independent agents across 20+ countries and, since September 2025, an exclusive Nordic distribution partnership with Calderys Nordic AB for lined-ladle solutions. Group structure includes Sealand Valves and Wolstenholme Valves alongside the core foundry business.

Name

Acetarc Engineering

Legal name

Acetarc Limited

Website

https://acetarc.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family-owned UK foundry equipment manufacturer founded in 1967, designing and producing heavy-duty ladles, SAFE-POUR bottom-pour systems, ladle pre-heaters, and monorail materials-handling systems for foundries and industrial customers worldwide, with 70-80% of production exported through direct sales and an international agent network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foundry Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Machinery Manufacturing (333), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Processing Equipment (Reactors, Mixers, Agitators) (IMAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Steelwork & Fabrication Facilities (Plate/Section Processing, Welding Lines) (IMAJALAH)

Keywords

• Foundry ladles
• Molten metal handling
• Foundry equipment manufacturing
• Steel fabrication services
• Monorail crane systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Keighley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundry Equipment Manufacturing & Sales: Acetarc designs and manufactures foundry equipment (ladles, pre-heaters, auto-pour systems, crucible handling, cupola systems, monorail/crane systems) and sells these as heavy capital equipment to foundries worldwide. Products are made to order, tailored to each customer's specific requirements. Revenue is primarily one-time capital equipment purchase, supplemented by spare parts and aftermarket support.
2. General Engineering & Fabrication Services: Acetarc provides general engineering services including steel fabrications, water industry projects (refurbishment, repair, subcontract work for Yorkshire Water and J N Bentley), mezzanine floors, inspection pits, and heritage engineering projects. Revenue includes both project-based one-time contracts and ongoing subcontract machining services through subsidiary Allan Green & Son.
3. Refractory Lining Solutions (via Calderys Partnership): Through the partnership with Calderys Nordic AB, Acetarc offers full refractory lining solutions for foundry ladles and molten-metal-handling equipment. This adds a complementary revenue stream through the supply of pre-lined, ready-to-use ladles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Acetarc Engineering designs, manufactures, and supplies foundry equipment primarily for molten metal handling and pouring. Its flagship offerings include Workhorse and Westminster heavy- and medium-duty crane ladles (capacities from 450Kg to 75,000Kg), bottom-pour ladle assemblies, ladle pre-heaters, auto-pouring systems, monorail and crane systems, cupola melting plants, and crucible handling equipment. The company also delivers general engineering and steel fabrication services (water industry projects, mezzanine floors, inspection pits) and resells TC/American Monorail track systems in the UK.

Product overview

Acetarc Engineering is a manufacturer of foundry equipment and general engineering services. The core product portfolio centres on foundry ladles (Geared Crane Ladles including Westminster and Workhorse ranges, Transfer & Casting Ladles, Bottom Pour Gear Ladles, Motorised Gearing, Teapot Spout Ladles, Treatment Ladles for Ductile Iron, Forklift Truck Ladles, Porous Plug Ladles, Drum and U-Shaped Ladles, and Ladles for Auto-Pour Units) complemented by related foundry equipment including Auto Pouring Systems, Safe-Pour Systems, Ladle Pre-Heaters, Crucible Handling Equipment, Furnace Charging Equipment, Cupola Projects, and Monorail & Crane Systems. The company also resells TC/American Monorail Systems as a UK authorised dealer. General engineering services include Water Industry Projects, Steel Fabrications, Mezzanine Floors, Inspection Pits, and Materials Handling. The subsidiary Allan Green & Son provides gear cutting and precision machining services, while Sealand Valves and Wolstenholme Valves handle valve manufacturing. Refractory lining solutions are offered through a partnership with Calderys Nordic AB.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Geared Crane Ladles Heavy-duty foundry ladles for continuous use in all types of foundries, offered in Westminster medium-duty (up to 4500Kg for non-ferrous/intermittent ferrous use) and Workhorse heavy-duty (450Kg to 75,000Kg capacity for all molten metals) variants.
• Transfer & Casting Ladles Ladles designed for efficient and safe transportation and pouring of all types of molten metals, based on Westminster or Workhorse designs with un-geared, lever tilt, manual gearbox, or motorised gearbox rotation options.
• Acetarc Bottom Pour Gear Ladles (BPG) Ladles equipped with single or twin bottom pour gear assemblies for slag-free tapping from the base of the ladle, available with manual lever control or SAFE-POUR powered assembly with radio remote control.
• Ladles With Motorised Gearing Foundry ladles fitted with motor gear assembly comprising oil-bath gearbox linked via clutch to motor gear unit, available with electric or pneumatic motor, torque limiter safety overload, and control options including inverter, radio remote, pendant, or lever control.
• Teapot Spout Ladles Ladles designed to draw metal from the base of the ladle, holding back slag and impurities for cleaner pours; commonly used for steel and steel alloys, available with half-round or square spout designs and extended or back slagging spout options.
• Treatment Ladles for Ductile (S.G.) Iron Specialised ladles for in-ladle ductile iron treatment processes including deep treatment sandwich process, tundish cover, teapot spout treatment, wire feed, plunging stations, and porous plug desulphurising ladles.
• Forklift Truck Ladles Ladles adapted for safe and efficient transportation and pouring of molten metal using forklift trucks, ranging from un-geared ladles handled with rotary forks to geared crane ladles with fork pockets and sub-frame mounted tilting solutions.
• Porous Plug Ladles - Desulphurisation Processes Ladles equipped with porous plug (gas diffuser) refractory nozzles installed in the base to enable inert gas introduction for stirring action, mixing additives, and desulphurisation processing.
• Lip-Axis Pouring Units Molten metal pouring units designed for high-speed automatic moulding lines or backup systems, available with manual or automatic control and static or tracking configurations.
• Drum and U Shaped Ladles Ladles available in capacities up to 10,000Kg with enclosed drum shell or open U-shaped designs, often supplied on stands as un-heated receivers for headroom-limited applications.
• Auto Pouring Systems Cost-effective un-heated semi-automatic pouring systems enabling high pouring rates based on lip-axis or bottom pouring processes, designed to reduce operator fatigue and provide flexibility for different metal specifications.
• Safe-Pour Systems Battery-powered bottom pouring units with radio remote control enabling ladle operators to control metal pouring at a safe distance; self-contained, retro-fittable to any ladle with no power cable requirements.
• Ladle Pre-Heaters Gas-fired pre-heaters providing safe, cost-effective, efficient and controlled ladle pre-heating with automatic flame failure protection, integral combustion fan, and control options ranging from HI/LOW to fully modulating flame control.
• Crucible Handling Equipment Equipment for handling crucibles including internal and external carriers, lifting tongs, scissor lift tongs, hand shank carriers, tilting cradles, crucible internal lifters, and drossing spoons.
• Furnace Charging & Stockyard Handling Equipment Equipment including vibratory charging systems, charging buckets, and skip hoists for furnace charging and stockyard material handling operations.
• Cupola Projects Full range of foundry cupola projects from design, manufacture and installation of new cupola melting systems to repair, replacement and decommissioning of obsolete cupola systems.
• Acetarc Monorail & Crane Systems Flexible overhead material handling solutions for loads up to 20,000Kg, including monorail systems with bends, switches, turntables, lift/lower units, bus-bar systems, powered trolleys, and bespoke crane solutions from light push travel to fully powered single or double girder cranes.
• TC/American Monorail Systems UK authorised resale of TC/American Monorail Equipment featuring patented track systems with advantages of uniformity, longer life, lower rolling friction and lower weight per section.
• Water Industry Projects & Subcontract Work On-site and in-factory water industry project capabilities including pump refurbishment, screen repair, compactors, grit elevators, sludge conveyors, pipe repairs, gearbox refurbishment, and water works access platforms.
• Steel Fabrications Full design and fabrication capability for structural steel frames, mezzanine floors, access platforms, stairways, fire escapes, hand railing, tanks, hoppers, security guarding and fencing.
• Inspection Pits Vehicle inspection pits designed to VOSA approved standards with fully self-supporting frame, non-slip Durbar floors, integrated jacking rails, access steps, escape ladders, and optional storage cupboards and connecting tunnels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 75,000Kg (165,000lbs) C.I. capacity in Workhorse heavy-duty ladles — one of the highest capacity ranges available for heavy-duty foundry ladles
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Calderys Nordic ABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2025Acetarc announced a new joint venture with Calderys Nordic AB in September 2025. Calderys is a leading global provider of thermal protection and refractory products for high-temperature industrial processes. Under the agreement, Calderys supplies refractory linings for Acetarc foundry ladles and distributes pre-lined, ready-to-use Acetarc ladles. Calderys has exclusive rights to promote and distribute the Acetarc ladle product line in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway. This enables Acetarc to offer fully lined ladles while giving Calderys access to Acetarc's ladle product portfolio for its existing and potential customer base.
• Allan Green & SoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Acetarc acquired Allan Green & Son in 2011, incorporating the gear cutting and precision machining business into the Atley Works site in 2012. Allan Green & Son had been Acetarc's principal sub-contractor for cutting gears used in Acetarc oil-bath gearboxes. The acquisition significantly expanded Acetarc's in-house sub-contract engineering capabilities including gear cutting, CNC machining, and precision engineering.
• TC/American Monorail Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2000Acetarc has been the UK's authorised dealer for TC/American Monorail Equipment since 2000. TC/American Monorail is a long-established US manufacturer (based in northwestern Minnesota) of high-quality monorail track and associated components using patented track technology. Acetarc designs, manufactures, and installs overhead monorail systems using TC/American track for foundries and heavy-duty industrial applications in the UK.
• Sealand ValvesminorOthersSealand Valves is a manufacturing division of Acetarc Limited, specialising in the design and manufacture of valves for maritime and land-based companies worldwide. It is part of the Acetarc Group of companies alongside Wolstenholme Valves.
• Wolstenholme ValvesminorOthersWolstenholme Valves is part of the Acetarc Group of companies, alongside Sealand Valves and Allan Green & Son. The Acetarc Group website lists Wolstenholme Valves as a subsidiary/affiliate within the group structure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• StrikoWestofen (SMS group): Manufacturer of melting and holding furnaces, dosing furnaces, and molten metal dosing systems for light-metal foundries. Comparable to Acetarc as a specialist in molten metal handling and pouring systems, focused on the aluminum die-casting and gravity die-casting segments where Acetarc's Westminster range also competes.
• DIDION International: US manufacturer of foundry equipment including rotary sand drums, casting cooling drums, and lump breakers. Adjacent to Acetarc's foundry equipment portfolio serving the same metalcasting customer base with complementary process equipment.
• Inductotherm Group: World's largest manufacturer of induction melting equipment for foundries and steel mills, also supplying ladle heating and pouring automation. Acetarc and Inductotherm both serve molten metal handling in foundries globally, though Inductotherm is much larger and induction-focused while Acetarc specializes in ladle/pouring hardware.
• Foundry Solutions & Design (Synergen): US engineering and equipment integrator specializing in foundry layout, cupola systems, and molten metal handling. Comparable to Acetarc's cupola project line and full-facility foundry engineering services for the same end customers.
• Modern Equipment Company (MECO): US-based manufacturer of foundry ladles, transfer cars, and pouring equipment for iron and steel foundries. Direct competitor to Acetarc in the foundry ladle category with overlapping product capabilities (geared crane ladles, bottom pour ladles, treatment ladles).
• Morgan Molten Metal Systems (Morgan Advanced Materials): A global manufacturer of crucibles, molten metal handling systems, and foundry consumables serving ferrous and non-ferrous foundries. Directly comparable to Acetarc as a specialty foundry equipment manufacturer serving overlapping end customers with complementary (rather than identical) ladle and pouring-system portfolios.
• Mechatherm International: UK-based manufacturer of aluminum melting, holding, and dosing furnaces for casthouses. Comparable to Acetarc as a UK-headquartered specialist in molten metal equipment, though Mechatherm focuses on furnace systems while Acetarc focuses on ladle/pouring systems — complementary product lines within the same foundry customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Resco Products: North American manufacturer of refractory products including ladle linings, monolithics, and precast shapes for foundries and steel mills. Comparable to the Calderys side of Acetarc's recent JV — incumbent refractory supplier that increasingly offers full ladle solutions.
• Calderys (Imerys): Global leader in refractory products for high-temperature industries, including foundry ladle linings. Now Acetarc's exclusive Nordic distributor under the 2025 JV; comparable as a broader refractory/thermal-protection incumbent that increasingly bundles equipment and consumables offerings — a strategic model Acetarc is integrating into via the JV.

Regional players

• Agni Steels: India-based manufacturer of foundry ladles, transfer ladles, and steel fabrication for foundry and metallurgical customers. Comparable product portfolio (ladles, gear mechanisms, steel fabrication) but serving primarily South Asian markets where Acetarc currently has limited direct presence.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/acetarc_ltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acetarc-engineering

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Acetarc Engineering