South Yorkshire-based
Sheffield Forgemasters, which specialises in the production of large bespoke steel castings and forgings, as well as standard rolls, ingots and bars, has announced its 2019 financial results against a series of unprecedented challenges.
Led by CEO David Bond, the company recorded revenue of £79.3 million in 2019 (up from £66.3 million in 2018) with pre-tax profit of £0.8 million (down from £2 million in 2018) and entered 2020 with an order book of £162 million.
Mr Bond said: “During 2019 we focused on our core UK Defence programmes, achieving much-improved delivery performance, and have reduced product arrears for the steel processing sector, helping to drive an increase in revenue of 20%.
“Margins came under pressure during the year, driven by a lower level of throughput, reflecting slower than expected order intake.”
The company reported a significant reduction in net debt from £20.3 to £8.8 millon in the year and has extended its lending facilities with Wells Fargo to December 2021.
Steve Hammell, CFO, said: “We have continued to reduce debt levels by a strict focus on cash management while maintaining levels of capital expenditure to improve plant reliability. In April we extended our £40 million lending facility for a further 20 months to December 2021, providing the financing to deliver on our UK Defence contractual commitments. This placed the company in a robust financial position just as the Covid-19 pandemic hit.”
All main areas of Sheffield Forgemasters' plant have remained fully operational throughout the pandemic, continuing to deliver on customer commitments, supported by the key worker status granted to those parts of the site serving national security interests.
Mr Bond added: “As the pandemic unfolded, we tried to balance the absolute necessity to protect the health of our employees with the preservation of the business, by maintaining the safe operation of as much of the site as possible.
“Despite the strong response to the pandemic and entering lockdown in a much-improved financial position, the demand environment has deteriorated and, as for many other UK manufacturers, order intake remains a challenge.
“We are optimistic about the long-term prospects of the business given its unique capabilities in the defence nuclear supply chain and we continue to work with external stakeholders to secure our role on future defence programmes.
“We also see strong prospects in support of the UK Government zero carbon agenda, particularly supplying complex steel products into Civil Nuclear power applications and large off-shore wind structures.”