SBUK forges ahead with Teesside move

A North East steel specialist is investing in new premises to drive growth and increase production capacity.

Steel Benders UK Limited (SBUK) is developing a 40,000sq ft site at the former Caparo and forge plant on Brenda Road in Hartlepool, enabling the business to relocate from Middlesbrough and significantly increase capacity.

The project is backed by funding from the Teesside Flexible Investment Fund, managed by FW Capital and supported by the Teesside Pension Fund, alongside substantial investment from the company itself.

Founded in 2002, SBUK provides steel profiling and forming services including plate rolling, section bending and press braking, supported by advanced plasma and laser cutting technology.

Bosses say the move will double SBUK’s production capabilities and create at least 15 new jobs, supporting growth in the region’s manufacturing sector. 

They add the new facility will also house the only 8x2m fibre laser cutting bed in the North of England, enhancing the firm’s technical offering.

Tania Cooper, owner and director at SBUK, said: “The new facility provides the necessary scale and infrastructure to house our latest state-of-the-art machinery. 

“This expansion, underpinned by significant capital investment, enhances our capacity for large-scale bending and profiling. 

“This site is a testament to the future of SBUK and our commitment to the region. 

“We are grateful to the team at FW Capital for their invaluable partnership in realising this vision.”

Lesley Telford, senior investment executive at FW Capital, added: "With a 20-year track record of excellence across the UK, SBUK is now deploying this investment into scaling up. 

“It’s fantastic to back their new Hartlepool development through the Teesside Flexible Investment Fund – an investment that directly fuels their expansion and meets the rising demand for their expertise."

Backed by the Teesside Pension Fund and managed by FW Capital, the Teesside Flexible Investment Fund supports property developments, business acquisitions and growth across Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees through a mix of loan and equity funding, including backing for management buyouts.

Councillor John Kabuye, chair of the Teesside Pension Fund Committee, added: “The Flexible Investment Fund is all about supporting local businesses to grow, creating new jobs and prosperity for the whole Tees area. 

“SBUK are at the cutting edge of this highly specialised field, and I wish them every success for the future.”

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