- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Messages
- 5,577
- Reaction score
- 11,224
1. The History
Based in Sheffield, South Yorks, William Rowland Metal Finishing have been offering chemical (Metal) finishing processes to a variety of industries since 1940.
Their history can be traced as far back as 1840, when they became the first company to import Swedish iron into Sheffield for use in the city’s cutlery production. Sheffield is well known for steel manufacturing and metallurgy from the 18th century onwards. Going from strength-to-strength, they became internationally recognised as suppliers of high-quality metals, expanding to cover distribution of metals across the world, manufacturing alloys and solders in-house at their foundry in Birmingham. In recent years, they have made a name for themselves in a variety of finishing processes including pickling, macro etching, passivating, phosphating and chemical machining on a wide range of materials, including stainless steel, nickel alloys, titanium and mild steel.
They moved out of their Meadow Street premises in 2020 to relocate to a bigger site in Barnsley which they moved into in March of that year.
2. The Explore
Not too much to say here. It was an easy in and relaxed explore. The place was pretty much stripped as the site is due for demolition. The iconic clocks that used to sit high up on the front of the building were taken down and stored in the factory have long been removed.
3. The Pictures
Front Shot:
Door detail:
And we’re in!
Empty but photogenic factory space:
One of the few things left behind:
Weighing station:
Crane-age:
More factory space:
Store room:
Not quite the Tardis:
Old signage:
Lockers:
Time for tea:
Clocking in:
Good advice!
Goods lift:
Old paperwork:
Based in Sheffield, South Yorks, William Rowland Metal Finishing have been offering chemical (Metal) finishing processes to a variety of industries since 1940.
Their history can be traced as far back as 1840, when they became the first company to import Swedish iron into Sheffield for use in the city’s cutlery production. Sheffield is well known for steel manufacturing and metallurgy from the 18th century onwards. Going from strength-to-strength, they became internationally recognised as suppliers of high-quality metals, expanding to cover distribution of metals across the world, manufacturing alloys and solders in-house at their foundry in Birmingham. In recent years, they have made a name for themselves in a variety of finishing processes including pickling, macro etching, passivating, phosphating and chemical machining on a wide range of materials, including stainless steel, nickel alloys, titanium and mild steel.
They moved out of their Meadow Street premises in 2020 to relocate to a bigger site in Barnsley which they moved into in March of that year.
2. The Explore
Not too much to say here. It was an easy in and relaxed explore. The place was pretty much stripped as the site is due for demolition. The iconic clocks that used to sit high up on the front of the building were taken down and stored in the factory have long been removed.
3. The Pictures
Front Shot:
Door detail:
And we’re in!
Empty but photogenic factory space:
One of the few things left behind:
Weighing station:
Crane-age:
More factory space:
Store room:
Not quite the Tardis:
Old signage:
Lockers:
Time for tea:
Clocking in:
Good advice!
Goods lift:
Old paperwork:
