Solvent and Vapour Degreasing Subcontract Works Suggests Return of UK Manufacturing

As confidence surges in UK manufacturing, driven by reshoring efforts and renewed investment in aerospace, defence, and precision engineering, behind-the-scenes processes like solvent and vapour degreasing are receiving renewed focus for their vital role in ensuring clean, compliant components. At the heart of this revival is Midland Deburr & Finish, a long-established specialist based in Lye, West Midlands, that’s championing the importance of meticulous metal degreasing in modern production environments.

“Cleanliness is critical — it’s the foundation of every reliable finish,” says Chris Arrowsmith, Managing Director of Midland Deburr & Finish. “Before you can even begin to talk about coating, bonding, assembly, or inspection, the part has to be surgically clean. That’s where solvent and vapour degreasing come in.”

With decades of experience supplying deburring and finishing services to sectors ranging from aerospace to motorsport, Arrowsmith has seen firsthand how the smallest traces of oil, swarf or residue can cause major downstream issues — from poor paint adhesion to rejected batches and costly rework.

“We’ve had parts arrive here from machine shops looking perfect to the eye,” he says. “But under magnification or in a test tank, you’ll find microscopic contaminants that could affect everything from adhesion strength to corrosion resistance. That’s why we take degreasing so seriously.”

Solvent degreasing, using specially formulated cleaning agents, remains one of the most effective ways to remove oils, waxes, cutting fluids, and particulate matter from metal surfaces. Midland Deburr & Finish employs a range of chemistries tailored to different metals and manufacturing processes — including aerospace-grade degreasers compatible with titanium, aluminium, and stainless steel alloys.

But it’s vapour degreasing, in particular, that Arrowsmith says is seeing a resurgence in demand due to its efficiency, consistency, and suitability for complex geometries. Using a closed system that boils solvent to produce a vapour cloud, the process condenses on cooler parts and lifts away contaminants without abrasion or manual scrubbing.

“Vapour degreasing gives us incredibly uniform results,” explains Arrowsmith. “It gets into blind holes, threads, and intricate features that other methods can miss. For aerospace and medical components, where you simply can’t tolerate any contamination, it’s still one of the most trusted and validated processes out there.”

This renewed attention on surface preparation comes at a time when UK manufacturing is once again being seen as a strategic national asset. With global supply chains strained, and geopolitical risk prompting investment in domestic capacity, firms across the UK are reviewing their supplier bases — and increasingly favouring partners who can offer traceable, high-integrity processes close to home.

“We’ve definitely felt that shift,” says Arrowsmith. “Buyers are looking for suppliers who can deliver technical capability, quick turnaround, and full compliance with aerospace and defence standards. That’s where we come in — and degreasing is an essential part of that offering.”

Midland Deburr & Finish’s West Midlands location places it close to key UK manufacturing clusters, and the company has invested in modern, environmentally responsible degreasing systems that comply with evolving regulations around emissions and solvent recovery.

“Regulatory compliance is non-negotiable,” Arrowsmith adds. “We work closely with our solvent suppliers and environmental partners to ensure that our processes are both effective and safe. The days of open tanks and hazardous fumes are long gone — today’s systems are closed-loop, controlled, and sustainable.”

Looking ahead, Arrowsmith believes that solvent and vapour degreasing will only grow in importance as component complexity increases and expectations around surface quality continue to rise.

“Parts are getting lighter, smaller, and more complex — and the tolerances are tighter than ever,” he says. “You can’t afford to guess whether a surface is clean. With vapour and solvent degreasing, we give our customers certainty — and in high-stakes manufacturing, that’s everything.”

Midland Deburr & Finish — and their quiet mastery of essential processes — will play a vital role in ensuring the country’s industrial resurgence is built on the firmest of foundations.