A Nod to the Unsung Heroes of British Manufacturing National Engineering Day

Lye-based surface finishing specialist highlights engineering excellence and the craft behind precision finishing.

As the UK marks National Engineering Day on November 5th, the team at Midland Deburr & Finish in Lye, Stourbridge, is shining a light on the often-overlooked but vital role that surface finishing plays in the engineering supply chain.

For Managing Director Chris Arrowsmith, the day is a welcome opportunity to celebrate the depth of skill and dedication that underpins British engineering — and to recognise the people whose precision work helps keep it moving.

"Engineering is a craft and vocation for people passionate about making things and solving problems - who have an attention to detail that turn ideas into reality,” says Arrowsmith. “At Midland Deburr & Finish, we see that every day — from the components we process to the pride our team takes in getting the finish exactly right.”

The company provides vibratory deburring, solvent degreasing, and vapour degreasing services to customers across sectors including aerospace, automotive, and general precision engineering. These processes remove burrs, contamination, and residues from machined components, ensuring they meet the stringent cleanliness and finish standards demanded by today’s manufacturers.

“Our work in metal degreasing and metal finishing is essential,” Arrowsmith adds. “Every precision component that leaves our facility plays a small but crucial part in a bigger engineering story — whether that’s a car on the road, an aircraft in the sky, or a medical device that changes lives.”

Organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering, National Engineering Day is part of the “This is Engineering” campaign, which aims to make engineers more visible and inspire a new generation to consider careers in the sector. Activities across the country highlight how engineering shapes everything from sustainable transport and healthcare to digital technology and the built environment.

For Arrowsmith, the message is clear: engineering’s future depends on recognising the full range of people and processes that make it possible.

“We’re proud to be part of that story,” he says. “Surface finishing is often behind the scenes, however it’s where precision meets perfection. National Engineering Day is a reminder that every engineer, every process, and every detail matters.”

As Britain celebrates its engineers this week, companies like Midland Deburr & Finish stand as a testament to the quiet excellence driving the nation’s industrial success — one perfectly finished component at a time.