Our story begins in 1800, when William Westley opened Queens Cross Foundry in the West Midlands. Spunalloys, Meighs, Francis W Birkett & Sons and Walter Frank & Sons were established later in the 19th century, their foundry activities being central to both our heritage and future.
We have always been known for supporting safety-critical industries. Such as Walter Frank pioneering the UK’s standardisation of fire hose fittings, Westleys support of the British steel industry, our development of Defence Standard alloys 747 and 824 for the Royal Navy, and Spunalloys gaining approvals from Rolls-Royce and Augusta Westland.
More recently, we’ve embedded a corporate structure to lead us into the 21st century. Further acquisitions and investments have followed, with highlights including the FM Approved PRV9i launch in 2011, and the creation of dedicated sand casting and centrifugal casting centres of excellence.
Discover more about our proud heritage in the timeline below:
Westley Group launches new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. Committing ourselves to creating sustainable value for stakeholders while delivering robust economic performance.
We’ve invested in state-of-the-art Zeis and Axiom CNC CMM assets and software that enhance our delivery of industry-leading precision products.
As affiliated members of the US Naval Submarine League, we attended their 40th NAVSEA symposium, where we held discussions with US primes and the US Navy.
The UK, Europe, the Middle East, USA: over the past 12 months, we’ve taken part in trade exhibitions and conferences.
Westley Group launches new web site and corporate image.
Medium FARO arm inspection installed at Francis Birketts and Walter Frank
New investment for Spunalloys Finish Machine Shop, with large Doosan DBC130 CNC horizontal borer, and Doosan Mynx 9500 milling machine with fourth axis
Ravensburg Centre Lathe 8000 mm capacity installed at Spunalloys
Spunalloys formalises aerospace approval to AS9100
Centrifugal liner procedures approved by NAVSEA USA
Further centrifugal investment for Spunalloys, with new 5m-length spinning machine
Formation of Meighs & Westleys. Creation of the finalised sand casting centre of excellence, with consolidated sand casting activities.
Large FARO arm inspection machine installed at Cradley Heath
SC21 Continuous Sustainable Improvement Plan commenced with Babcock as primary sponsor. Group metrics standardised in line with the programme
Investment in St Peg Lane including new lathes and Haas VF6 and VF4 machining centres
Aquisition of J Roberts Bronze site and relocation of FWB and Walter Frank from Hightown Road site to improved site layout on St Peg Lane
Acquisition of Meighs Castings and Campbell Road site
Francis Birketts installs new suite of LMSA CNC lathes
Walter Frank gains FM Approval for PRV9i
Creation of a dedicated centre of excellence for centrifugal casting, with further investment in Cradley Heath foundry to broaden Spunalloys’ centrifugal machines and furnaces
Creation of a dedicated centre of excellence for static sand casting, with consolidation of Westleys Ltd sand casting operation on Holditch Road site
Consolidation of FWB and Walter Frank bronze foundry activities on Holditch Road, with new semi-automatic carousel and dedicated furnace room
Remodelling of Holditch Road site’s production and support layout to prepare for growth
Trent Foundries relocated and consolidated alongside J.T. Price on the Holditch Road site
Walter Frank designs and launches PRV9i
New electric induction furnaces installed at Meighs & Westleys creating 14,000 kgs of melting capacity
Westley Group acquires Sweetmore Engineering Holdings (renamed J.T. Price)
Founder member of the UK Foundry Industry Health and Safety Initiative SHIFT
Walter Frank relocated to Cleckheaton and consolidated alongside sister company FWB
Westley Group acquires Walter Frank & Sons Ltd
James and Rob Salisbury create Musgrave Holdings
