Award-winning bridge builder Beaver Bridges is breathing new life into Irlam, Greater Manchester, which was once home to the Partington Steel & Iron Company and later British Steel. Steelmaking continued in the town until 1979.
Although steel production ended decades ago, the town’s industrial heritage remains visible in its substantial infrastructure. This has provided an ideal foundation for Beaver Bridges as it begins its next phase of growth and expands UK bridge manufacturing through a flagship fabrication facility.
The company’s new Forge 44 facility takes its name from its manufacturing focus and M44 postcode. The development has also received recognition from Made in Britain, the trade organisation representing more than 2,250 British manufacturers. Its trademark is displayed as a 5 m mural inside Forge 44, celebrating the site’s continued role in UK bridge manufacturing.
John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain, said: “This is what ‘good growth’ in every industrial postcode looks like. The new Beaver Bridges facility is an embodiment of the future-facing British manufacturing story, connecting optimism, skilled, meaningful work in a vibrant and dynamic business that’s built on foundations that are centuries strong. It proves that manufacturing is as vital to our collective future as it was to our industrial past.
“What’s particularly impressive is how fast the team here has grown to become one of the country’s leading bridge specialists. To have got to this point in just ten years shows the potential that engineering expertise, transformational investment and a commitment to UK fabrication and good growth can bring.
“This company has doubled its manufacturing capacity while continuing to invest in people, facilities and innovation, demonstrating that unwavering confidence and long-term thinking can help strengthen Britain’s infrastructure and building base for years to come. A new era of British industry is being forged by great British manufacturers like this.”
Work to modernise the facility began in March 2026 and was completed in June, allowing Beaver Bridges to move in immediately. Rather than constructing a factory from scratch, the company recognised the engineering potential of an existing industrial facility.
The renovation included the installation of new cranes and renewed floors, while the building was reclad and modern welfare facilities were fitted. The result is a manufacturing environment that visitors frequently mistake for a new build, while preserving the characteristics that make the site well suited to heavy fabrication.
The investment has doubled the company’s UK bridge manufacturing capacity, increasing its fabrication space from 20,000 sq ft to 40,000 sq ft. It has also introduced a dedicated trial erection area where complete or partial bridge structures can be assembled before delivery.
By identifying fabrication, construction and finishing issues before components leave the factory, the facility reduces installation risks on site. It also allows clients to inspect finishes, colours and connections before manufacture is signed off.
Richard Hinckley, Business Director at Beaver Bridges, said: “Forge 44 represents far more than additional manufacturing space. It gives us the capacity to take on larger and more technically demanding projects while giving clients the opportunity to see their bridge assembled before it ever reaches site.”
This expansion of UK bridge manufacturing enables Beaver Bridges to undertake more complex projects while giving clients greater confidence before structures are transported and installed.
The investment comes as Beaver Bridges celebrates its tenth anniversary. As a member of Made in Britain since 2022, the company has the right to display the internationally recognised Made in Britain trademark. This independently verifies that its bridges are designed and manufactured in the UK.
Richard added: “As a business, we’re incredibly proud to manufacture in Britain and champion UK engineering. The Made in Britain trademark reinforces that commitment, particularly as we continue to grow internationally, demonstrating to customers that every bridge we deliver is designed and manufactured here in the UK.”
Originally developed for heavy engineering, the refurbished facility combines high-clearance fabrication space with extensive external yards and direct access to the strategic road network. The site enables Beaver Bridges to manufacture, assemble and transport increasingly large and complex bridge structures across the UK and overseas.
Located just minutes from the A57, with direct connections to the M60 and M6, Forge 44 provides efficient access to the UK’s motorway network. This helps the company transport oversized bridge components and strengthens its ability to deliver major infrastructure projects.
The expansion follows another successful year for Beaver Bridges, which was named UK Bridge Contractor of the Year 2026 at the New Civil Engineer Bridge Awards. This was the company’s second win in the category in three years.
The business was established by a team of six people a decade ago and now employs more than 120 people across multiple UK locations. Annual turnover has grown to more than £30 million, with the company targeting £50 million by 2028.
The investment in Forge 44 underlines Beaver Bridges’ commitment to expanding UK bridge manufacturing while supporting the delivery of increasingly ambitious bridge and infrastructure projects in Britain and internationally.
For more information, visit Beaver Bridges. To learn more about the campaign, visit Made in Britain.
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