Batten & Allen presses ahead with latest tech

A Gloucestershire-based engineering firm is investing in advanced manufacturing technology to support growing international demand.

Batten & Allen has become the first UK manufacturer to adopt Bruderer UK’s BSTA 280-88-B3 high-speed press, following a £500,000 investment unveiled at MACH 2026, which is taking place at the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) in Birmingham.

The Cirencester-based business, which specialises in precision stamping, plating and assembly, will install the new machine within weeks, with a major export order to Mexico set to be its first project. 

The contract will see the company produce lead frames used in AI chipsets, highlighting growing international demand for high-spec components.

Capable of up to 1500 strokes per minute, the new press offers micron-level precision and supports high-volume production, strengthening the firm’s ability to compete globally.

Shawn Batten, chairman of Batten & Allen, said: “We’ve been working closely with the Bruderer technical team in Telford to prove out some of our tooling on the new machine and the results have been outstanding to date.

“This accelerated our decision to purchase the new machine, and MACH 2026 seemed the perfect opportunity to agree the deal and secure a rapid install, so that the technology is in place for the Mexico order and two further jobs for clients in Asia and North America.

“Our components are used in some of the most advanced electronic applications, ranging from AI chips and data centres, to advanced automotive and aerospace uses. 

“The BSTA 280-88 gives you everything you need to guarantee 100 per cent repeatable quality at a speed that makes you competitive – it’s a very impressive machine and the B3 control has taken the user interface to the next level.

“We’re also delighted to have worked with Bruderer on the development of its new servo feeder. 

“The improvements, born out of real-world use, makes it the ideal ancillary equipment for thin gauge material.”

Adrian Haller, managing director of Telford-based Bruderer UK, added: “This deal is a blueprint for UK manufacturing to follow and shows how investment in new technology – combined with innovation and technical excellence – can help a domestic company not only remain competitive but lead the way against international rivals.

“The full integration of press, feeder, and tooling within a single manufacturing control environment is a game-changer and will support Batten & Allen with existing work and going after new contracts in the data centre and AI space.

“This is more than just buying a press; it’s a strategic manufacturing partnership where we both maximise each other’s strengths… all geared towards delivering a solution that will drive performance and create manufacturing jobs in the UK.”

The investment builds on a long-standing relationship with Bruderer UK dating back to 1974, when the manufacturer supported Batten & Allen’s early growth by supplying a second press with the message: “pay for it, when you start making money from it”. 

More than five decades on, the business has evolved into a £25 million operation employing 125 people.

With 22 Bruderer machines already in operation, producing millions of components each day, the latest addition further enhances capacity as the company supplies customers across 20 countries. 

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