DSEI UK 2025: Independent Forgings and Alloys announces production investment

Independent Forgings and Alloys (IFA), a manufacturer of forged and machined products, announced a multi-million pound investment in its production site in Sheffield during the DSEI UK 2025 exhibition. The company plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities with new equipment and infrastructure.

The investment package includes the addition of two new hydraulic press forges, a 3000-tonne open-die press and a closed-die press, as well as two new axial ring rolling mills and drop stamp forge technology. These additions are intended to increase the company’s capacity to produce advanced alloys and critical parts for the commercial, business, defence, and aerospace sectors.

IFA plans to expand its Sheffield facility by the end of 2027, incorporating new forging and automation technology to meet rising demand. The development will also include a new machine shop, die shop, central warehouse, and office space. The company stated that this growth will create new career opportunities in roles such as production, engineering, metallurgy, and quality control.

The investment follows a recent financial injection into IFA from Trive Capital, a private equity firm based in Texas. Andy McGuinness, CEO of IFA, said the company is “excited to partner with Trive to enhance our capabilities and execute on several near and long-term growth opportunities.”

Company Profile: Independent Forgings and Alloys (IFA)

Independent Forgings and Alloys (IFA) is a UK-based company that produces forged and machined products. The company, with its primary production site in Sheffield, serves the aerospace, defence, and commercial sectors by supplying high-integrity components and advanced alloys. The company received an £8.5 million capital injection in 2018 from private equity firm, BGF, which successfully exited with the sale to Trive Capital in February 2025. At the time, the company’s turnover was £23 million. It counts BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Pratt & Whitney amongst its customers. 

Calibre comment

Independent Forgings and Alloys has not released many details of its role in the defence industry. However, metal forging is a central requirement for defence. Not much can happen without it, and this was quickly brought to the top of minds by the Ukraine war. There, artillery systems might fire more rounds in a year than they would during their entire lifecycle in a peacetime Western military, rapidly wearing down their barrels. This becomes an essential repair, but the manufacturing equipment for barrels – things like rotary forging machines – is held within heavy industry. It was ultimately difficult to increase barrel production to meet Ukraine’s needs, but it has spurred a number of investments. In the UK, Rheinmetall is working to establish a barrel manufacturing facility to support the UK’s Challenger 3 and Boxer RCH 155 production. And the British government nationalised Sheffield Forgemasters, a company involved in producing materials for nuclear submarines and other things, and announced plans to revive the company’s large calibre barrel production. Between Sheffield Forgemasters and Independent Forging and Alloys, the UK is presumably going to be relatively well-served in respect to forging; the lamentable decline of its steel production is yet to be reversed, however. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on September 9, 2025. Credit for the lead image is Independent Forgings and Alloys. This post was updated on November 13, 2025 to correct the name of the company. It was originally reported as Independent Forging and Alloys, instead of Independent Forgings and Alloys.