Sheffield Forgemasters has appointed VINCI Building as delivery partner for the UK’s largest open-die forging construction. The contract, valued at £138 million, will support construction of a 13,800m² building to house the open-die forging facility at the site in Sheffield, as the company drives forward its substantial recapitalisation programme.

VINCI Building will deliver the project to provide foundations, a 40-metre-high superstructure and building service solutions for the facility, alongside teams of subcontractors and supply chain partners.

Chief operating officer Gareth Barker said: “VINCI Building undertook a competitive bids process to secure the Forge delivery contract and as the winning bidder, will now look to move the programme forward at pace. Each of these milestones serves to remind the wider UK that we are progressing with a transformation of this business, to create one of the world’s most advanced large-scale engineering facilities, providing decades of jobs security and training for high-technology careers.”

Sheffield Forgemasters is currently investing heavily across its site to provide forging and machining facilities which will support growing demand for defence work, delivering unparalleled levels of innovation and efficiency.

John Roberts, managing director of VINCI Building, said: “Signing of this contract brings together three years of tireless work by the team to develop the design and price for Sheffield Forgemasters. It gives us the opportunity to step up our social value activities to deliver a positive legacy for the people of Sheffield. I look forward to seeing progress in the coming months.”

Chris Winspear, VINCI Building’s North East regional director, added: “We are delighted to have been appointed by Sheffield Forgemasters to deliver this transformational project, strengthening our partnership together. Our team is making great progress on the new facilities which will deliver on UK defence commitments and support our social value commitments in Sheffield and South Yorkshire. The project further enhances our portfolio in this sector and once complete, will deliver a fantastic manufacturing facility.”

The forging line will service defence and commercial work in sectors such as civil nuclear power, creating a new generation of engineers and designers, trained to work with Industry 4.0 technologies. It will be complemented by a proposed new machining facility, housing some of the world’s largest and most advanced five-axis vertical turning lathes.