RAIL


P


rototyping experience, rapid delivery times and word class quality developed in the automotive sector is putting a metal pressings and stamping specialist on track


for its best year in rail.


Pre-Met, which employs 60 people at its factory on Studley Road in Redditch, is on course to produce half a million brake plates for the first time ever and is now targeting new opportunities supplying components to rolling stock, infrastructure companies and train manufacturers. The company’s acquisition of Quality Springs & Pressings has helped increase capacity to take on the additional work and, even with a 20 per cent increase in volumes, the firm has been able to achieve zero defects over an eleven-month period. Destined for a major tier 1 supplier, the braking plate is manufactured in up to 18 different variants, including left to right set variants. Growth in the rail sector is helping Pre-Met increase its workforce, with four new people taken on in welding, press setting, quality and in the tool room. “Diversification was a big priority this year for the business, and we wanted to look at ways where we could maximise our core expertise in automotive, aerospace and advanced engineering and take it into complementary areas,” explains James Leng, managing director of Pre-Met.


“Rail was a natural target. We had started to deliver a couple of projects on time and to budget and this has accelerated this year, with the one back plate now passing 500,000 of units in 2025 – with a 20 per cent rise in production expected next year.” He continues: “This is just the start. All the recent investment has given us a platform to offer rail customers a one-source solution for tool transfers and new products. We can do everything from initial prototyping and small batch work, through to developing the tooling,


46


PRE-MET ON TRACK FOR GROWTH IN RAIL AFTER PASSING HALF A MILLION- PRODUCTION MILESTONE


producing in medium and high volumes and completing value added assembly. “We have recently been working with another rail client to help reverse engineer one of its existing products to improve the base design and simplify the production process. In turn, this will improve finished quality, whilst extending longevity of the component lifecycle.” Operating from Redditch since 1973, Pre-Met originally made high-value pens, cufflinks and telecommunication parts, with today’s company evolving into a critical, quality-assured supplier to aerospace, mobility, med-tech, construction, electronics and transport sectors, shipping its components to customers across the world. Consistent investment in new technology and workforce development has seen it become a metal pressings and assembly specialist, offering a full product lifecycle from concept and design to prototyping and low, medium and high- volume production.


It has also worked tirelessly to achieve the


highest levels of manufacturing performance, securing world class ‘right first time’ and quality scores, not to mention gaining ISO 9001, AS9100 (aerospace) and TS16949 (automotive) accreditations.


More recently, Pre-Met has reinforced its commitment to digital transformation by obtaining its Cyber Essentials security certificate. Leng concludes: “2025 has been a pivotal year for us, with the Quality Springs & Pressings acquisition and subsequent consolidation of its operations at our existing site on Studley Road. Over £500k has been invested in the integration and this has given us an extra 30 per cent boost in production and access to new robotic technology. “This is making a real difference to us in rail and there are also new doors opening in aerospace and defence, with our membership of JOSCAR pushing Pre-Met’s expertise into new supply chains.”


Pre-Met www.metalpressingsandstampings.co.uk


Winter 2025/2026 UKManufacturing


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