Signs of Optimism as Manufacturing Activity Picks Up – Midland Deburr & Finish Sees Quality Pressures Rise

The UK manufacturing sector has shown signs of renewed momentum, with the latest flash PMI data revealing the industry’s first return to growth in more than a year. The figures, suggesting a tentative recovery ahead of the autumn Budget, have been welcomed by firms across the Midlands supply chain that say demand is rising – but so too are expectations.

For Midland Deburr & Finish, the Lye-based specialist in vibratory finishing, vapour degreasing and component surface preparation, the shift in the economic mood is already visible on the shopfloor.

“We’re seeing a definite change in pace,” said Managing Director Chris Arrowsmith. “Customers are under more pressure than ever to deliver flawless components, and that means renewed focus on the finishing stage. Whether it’s aerospace rings, high-precision pressings, or large castings the size of engine blocks, we’re seeing a broader and more complex mix of work coming through our doors.”

The firm provides one of the Midlands’ most comprehensive finishing services – from vibratory deburring and vibro-polishing to solvent and vapour degreasing – with batch flexibility ranging from one-off prototypes to multi-thousand-part production runs. The service is used widely across aerospace, automotive, energy and general engineering supply chains, where small defects can have major performance consequences.

Arrowsmith says the shift is being driven less by aesthetics and more by engineering performance and assurance.

“There’s still a misconception that deburring is a simple aesthetic process he explained. “In reality, finishing is about reliability, safety and repeatability. A burr left on a precision part can create a stress point that leads to fatigue failure. Oil residues left before coating can undermine adhesion. These issues can show up months down the line – and the cost of failure can be enormous.”

The company’s state-of-the-art vapour degreasing plant allows it to clean components to aerospace-grade standards, free from water staining or handling contamination – a key advantage over conventional aqueous cleaning methods.

The return to production at manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover following its high-profile cyber disruption has helped boost activity across the Midlands supply chain, though uncertainty remains over exports and input costs. Economists warn that upcoming fiscal decisions may sway confidence further.

For Arrowsmith, however, the medium-term trends are clear: higher standards, tighter tolerances, and less room for error.

“Manufacturing is coming back – but it’s coming back leaner and more exacting. The finish is no longer an afterthought; it’s a critical stage in safeguarding performance. The work we do is one of the last links in the chain before components enter the field, and that responsibility is only growing.”

Despite the pressures, Arrowsmith remains optimistic.

“UK manufacturing has taken some knocks, but the resilience, skill and ingenuity in this region is real. When confidence turns, those who have invested in quality and consistency will be the ones who move first. That’s where we’re positioning ourselves.”