Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Precision Engineering and Brass Manufacturing in Birmingham
Established in 1958 by Thomas Bates, our family business has grown across four generations while maintaining a commitment to precision engineering and quality craftsmanship. With a dedicated 10,000 sq ft facility in Birmingham since 1977, we specialise in CNC machining, brass product manufacturing, and valve spanner production using advanced CAD-CAM technology. Our experienced engineers deliver competitive pricing and fast lead times, averaging 6.8 days from order to dispatch. We prioritise direct customer support through real human interaction during office hours, avoiding automated systems.Our valve spanners, crafted from one-piece drop-forged steel, meet rigorous industry standards for petrochemical, MOD, oil, water, and gas sectors. We also produce solid brass bathroom pull cord handles in various styles for direct customer sales. Our UK-based manufacturing ensures quality control, with powder-coated finishes available in multiple colours upon request. We focus on cost-effective design solutions while accommodating batch orders of all sizes. Our heritage in Birmingham's industrial landscape reflects our dedication to engineering excellence and customer satisfaction.
Services
CNC Machining
Valve Spanners
Brass Products
Engineering Design
CAD-CAM Services
Details
- Year established: 1958
Highlights and features
- Four generations of engineering expertise since 1958
- Fast lead times with 6.8 days average from order to dispatch
- Direct customer support with real humans during office hours
- Competitive pricing using advanced CAD-CAM technology
- UK-manufactured products with one-piece forged construction
Services
CNC Machining
Our full five-axis CNC machining capabilities deliver high-precision components using up-to-date CAD-CAM software. We work with standard industry CAD files to provide cost-effective manufacturing solutions for complex engineering requirements across various industrial sectors.
Valve Spanners
We manufacture durable one-piece drop-forged steel valve spanners in 8", 12", 18", 24", and 36" sizes. Available with black powder coating (custom colours on request), these tools meet rigorous industry standards for petrochemical, MOD, oil, water, and gas applications.
Brass Products
Our solid brass bathroom pull cord handles are crafted in multiple styles for direct customer sales. We combine traditional manufacturing techniques with modern quality control to produce durable, aesthetically pleasing brass products for residential applications.
Engineering Design
We collaborate with clients on cost-effective design and manufacturing solutions, working from drawings, sketches, samples, or 3D printed models. Our engineering team provides technical expertise to optimise part design while maintaining functional requirements and production efficiency.
CAD-CAM Services
Using advanced CAD-CAM software, we convert standard industry CAD files into precision-engineered components. This digital workflow ensures accurate manufacturing specifications while maintaining competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for both prototype and batch production.
Questions
What industries do you serve?
We supply precision-engineered components and valve spanners to petrochemical, MOD, oil, water, and gas industries, alongside producing brass bathroom fittings for residential markets.
How quickly can you complete orders?
Our current average lead time from order placement to dispatch is 6.8 days, combining experienced engineering with efficient manufacturing processes.
What makes your valve spanners different?
Unlike welded alternatives, our valve spanners are one-piece forged steel for superior durability, with 8"-12" drop-forged and 18"-36" hand-forged options made in the UK.
Do you offer custom design assistance?
Yes, we work with your drawings, sketches, or 3D models to provide cost-effective design solutions while maintaining manufacturing efficiency for custom components.
What support hours do you offer?
Our customer service team is available Monday-Thursday 9:00-16:00 and Friday 9:00-12:00 GMT via direct phone or contact form.
Can you accommodate different order quantities?
We handle both small custom orders and large batch production runs, adapting our manufacturing capacity to meet specific client requirements.
