Reindustrialisation Must Reach the Factory Floor, Says Midland Deburr & Finish

UK manufacturing growth is gathering pace, and Midland Deburr & Finish says the new government has an opportunity to turn improving order books into a sustained period of investment across Britain’s industrial supply chain.

The latest UK manufacturing figures provide an encouraging backdrop for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s stated ambition to reindustrialise the economy, with manufacturers increasing production for a fourth consecutive month and output expanding at its fastest rate for almost two years.

July’s S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI recorded a reading of 51.9, extending the sector’s expansion to nine successive months. New orders increased for an eighth consecutive month, supported by demand from domestic customers and export markets including the United States, Canada, European Union, China, India and South Korea.

For Midland Deburr & Finish, the Lye-based specialist in metal degreasing, solvent degreasing, vapour degreasing and vibratory deburring, those figures demonstrate the depth of opportunity running through Britain’s manufacturing supply chain.

Managing Director Chris Arrowsmith believes the new government’s reindustrialisation agenda can build on that momentum by recognising the specialist processes that sit between primary manufacturing and the delivery of finished components.

“Reindustrialisation becomes tangible when you see more components moving through British factories,” said Arrowsmith.

“More aerospace components, automotive pressings, machined parts and precision engineering work ultimately creates demand throughout the supply chain. Degreasing, vapour degreasing, solvent cleaning and vibratory deburring are part of that industrial ecosystem because components have to be finished, cleaned and prepared to the standards required by their next operation.”


The acceleration in manufacturing output comes as international trading conditions begin to settle following a prolonged period of tariff disruption.

For businesses such as Midland Deburr & Finish, increased production volumes can translate directly into greater requirements for specialist subcontract manufacturing services.

Vibratory deburring provides manufacturers with a controlled method of removing burrs, sharp edges and machining residues from batches of components, while helping create consistent surface finishes ahead of subsequent manufacturing, assembly or finishing operations.

Alongside this, industrial degreasing plays an equally important role in preparing manufactured components.

Midland Deburr & Finish provides specialist solvent degreasing and vapour degreasing services for manufacturers requiring components to be cleaned of oils, greases and production residues generated during pressing, machining and other manufacturing processes.

Arrowsmith said:

“When manufacturing output increases, the focus naturally moves towards throughput, consistency and dependable supply chains. Specialist subcontractors allow manufacturers to access established metal finishing, deburring and component cleaning capability as production requirements develop.

“That is where businesses like Midland Deburr & Finish contribute. We support manufacturers by taking components through those essential finishing processes efficiently and consistently, allowing their production teams to concentrate on the next stage of manufacture.”

Burnham has placed reindustrialisation and greater regional economic decision-making at the centre of his emerging economic agenda.

That focus has particular relevance to the Midlands, where dense networks of manufacturers, precision engineers, metal pressworkers, machinists, surface treatment specialists and subcontract processors continue to support major industries.

The Modern Industrial Strategy inherited by the new government encompasses eight Growth Sectors and 37 Frontier Industries, alongside Foundational Industries considered essential to their success. Analysis by the Institute for Government highlights skills, technology adoption, infrastructure, regulation, R&D and access to investment among the policy levers available to support industrial development.

The Institute for Government has also argued that Burnham's reindustrialisation and devolution ambitions could be supported by greater local influence over areas including skills, infrastructure, innovation spending and procurement.

For Arrowsmith, the opportunity is to connect those national ambitions with the practical requirements of manufacturers.

“Britain already has an extraordinary concentration of manufacturing knowledge, particularly across the Midlands,” he said.

“Reindustrialisation gives us an opportunity to build on those capabilities. Investment in skills, machinery, energy infrastructure and regional supply chains can create an environment where manufacturers have the confidence to increase capacity and place more work with British suppliers.”

The significance of July’s figures extends beyond the headline PMI number.

Rising new orders indicate more work entering factories, while increasing export demand demonstrates the continued international market for British-manufactured products. As those volumes progress through production, every stage of the manufacturing process becomes part of the growth story.

That includes the specialist processes operating behind the finished component.

From vibratory deburring of automotive and precision-engineered components to solvent and vapour degreasing of machined and pressed metal parts, Midland Deburr & Finish provides manufacturers with outsourced capacity designed to integrate into established production programmes.

Arrowsmith added:

“The next phase of UK manufacturing growth will be built through thousands of businesses doing their part exceptionally well.

“For us, that means continuing to invest in the degreasing, vapour degreasing, solvent degreasing and vibratory deburring capability that manufacturers need as their own production increases.

“If reindustrialisation means making more in Britain, creating more value in our regions and strengthening the supply chains around our major industries, then specialist manufacturers across the Midlands are ready to play their part.”

With manufacturing output accelerating and order books strengthening, the opening months of the new government arrive at an important moment for British industry.

For Midland Deburr & Finish, the message to Downing Street is straightforward: give manufacturers the conditions to invest, produce and grow, and Britain’s industrial supply chain has the capability to turn reindustrialisation from an ambition into activity on the factory floor.