A proud history of strategic consolidation and innovation

Our story begins in 1800, when William Westley opened Queens Cross Foundry in the West Midlands. Spunalloys, Meighs, Francis W Birkett & Sons and Walter Frank & Sons were established later in the 19th century, their foundry activities being central to both our heritage and future.

 

We have always been known for supporting safety-critical industries, such as Walter Frank pioneering the UK’s standardisation of fire hose fittings, Westley’s support of the British steel industry, our development of Defence Standard alloys 747 and 824 for the Royal Navy, and Spunalloys gaining approvals from Rolls-Royce and AugustaWestland.

More recently, we’ve embedded a corporate structure to lead us into the 21st century. Further acquisitions and investments have followed, with highlights including the FM Approved PRV9i launch in 2011, and the creation of dedicated sand casting and centrifugal casting centres of excellence.

Discover more about our proud heritage in the timeline below:

  • 1800
  • 1862
  • 1881
  • 1923
  • 1962
  • 1978
  • 1980
  • 1986
  • 1990
  • 1991
  • 1991
  • 1991
  • 1993
  • 1995
  • 1996
  • 1996
  • 1997
  • 1997
  • 1998
  • 2001
  • 2002
  • 2004
  • 2004
  • 2005

Our Heritage

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1800
1800

Queens Cross Foundry opened by William Westley

1862
1862

Francis W Birkett & Sons founded

1881
1881

Walter Frank & Sons established in Barnsley by the Frank family as iron founders and mould makers

1923
1923

Charles Meigh developed the ‘Meigh Process’ at his foundry in Rouen, France

1962
1962

West & Musgrave Ltd incorporated

1978
1978

Walter Frank & Sons acquired by Kent family

1980
1980

X-ray and spark emission spectrometers installed in all Westley Group foundries

1986
1986

Walter Frank becomes first UK company registered to BS5750 for manufacture of fire hose fittings

1990
1990

Westleys Ltd buys A Fryer & Sons and starts to integrate with Spunalloys

1991
1991

BAE Systems Barrow foundry closed and moved into Meighs Castings

1991
1991

Meighs and Westleys HPLT (high pressure low turbulence) durville casting process rig designed and installed – to control metal velocity and oxide creation, allowing manufacture of weld-free nickel aluminium bronze alloys.

1991
1991

Rolls-Royce SABRE approval

1993
1993

Augusta Westland approval

1995
1995

Westley Group buys West & Musgrave Ltd and HiTech Bronze Ltd (James Salisbury joins Westley Group)

1996
1996

Westley Group buys Trent Foundries

1996
1996

Westley Group completes Spunalloys ownership

1997
1997

New centrifugal floor spinners installed at Spunalloys creating 2,500mm casting geometry

1997
1997

MAGMA soft casting simulation software installed

1998
1998

12 induction furnaces installed at Spunalloys, creating 14,000 kgs of melting capacity

2001
2001

Early start member of Climate Change Levy (CCL) responding to the impact of climate change

2002
2002

Westley Group acquires Francis Birketts (FWB)

2004
2004

Spunalloys moved onto Cradley Heath site

2004
2004

James and Rob Salisbury create Musgrave Holdings

2005
2005

Westley Group acquires Walter Frank & Sons Ltd

2023
Westley Group launches new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. Committing ourselves to creating sustainable value for stakeholders while delivering robust economic performance.
2022
We’ve invested in state-of-the-art Zeis and Axiom CNC CMM assets and software that enhance our delivery of industry-leading precision products.
2022
As affiliated members of the US Naval Submarine League, we attended their 40th NAVSEA symposium, where we held discussions with US primes and the US Navy.
2022
Taken part in trade exhibitions and conferences across the UK, Europe, Middle East and USA.
2021
Westley Group launches new web site and corporate image.
2020
Medium FARO arm inspection installed at Francis Birketts and Walter Frank
2020
New investment for Spunalloys Finish Machine Shop, with large Doosan DBC130 CNC horizontal borer, and Doosan Mynx 9500 milling machine with fourth axis
2018
Ravensburg Centre Lathe 8000 mm capacity installed at Spunalloys
2018
Spunalloys formalises aerospace approval to AS9100
2018
Centrifugal liner procedures approved by NAVSEA USA
2018
Further centrifugal investment for Spunalloys, with new 5m-length spinning machine
2018
Formation of Meighs & Westleys. Creation of the finalised sand casting centre of excellence, with consolidated sand casting activities.
2017
Large FARO arm inspection machine installed at Cradley Heath
2017
SC21 Continuous Sustainable Improvement Plan commenced with Babcock as primary sponsor. Group metrics standardised in line with the programme
2017
Investment in St Peg Lane including new lathes and Haas VF6 and VF4 machining centres
2017
Aquisition of J Roberts Bronze site and relocation of FWB and Walter Frank from Hightown Road site to improved site layout on St Peg Lane
2017
Acquisition of Meighs Castings and Campbell Road site
2015
Francis Birketts installs new suite of LMSA CNC lathes
2014
Walter Frank gains FM Approval for PRV9i
2014
Creation of a dedicated centre of excellence for centrifugal casting, with further investment in Cradley Heath foundry to broaden Spunalloys’ centrifugal machines and furnaces
2014
Creation of a dedicated centre of excellence for static sand casting, with consolidation of Westleys Ltd sand casting operation on Holditch Road site
2013
Consolidation of FWB and Walter Frank bronze foundry activities on Holditch Road, with new semi-automatic carousel and dedicated furnace room
2012
Remodelling of Holditch Road site’s production and support layout to prepare for growth
2011
Trent Foundries relocated and consolidated alongside J.T. Price on the Holditch Road site
2011
Walter Frank designs and launches PRV9i
2010
New electric induction furnaces installed at Meighs & Westleys creating 14,000 kgs of melting capacity
2009
Westley Group acquires Sweetmore Engineering Holdings (renamed J.T. Price)
2008
Founder member of the UK Foundry Industry Health and Safety Initiative SHIFT
2007
Walter Frank relocated to Cleckheaton and consolidated alongside sister company FWB
2005
Westley Group acquires Walter Frank & Sons Ltd
2004
James and Rob Salisbury create Musgrave Holdings

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