Expromet turns family-owned manufacturing companies into integrated centres of excellence while doubling orders and acquiring businesses
After joining Expromet Technologies Group (Expromet) in 2023, CEO Rob Guest quickly realized customers wanted a centralized supply of fully finished cast, machined, fabricated, and sourced components. Serving organizations in the semi-conductor, aerospace, defense, marine, medical, energy, and transportation sectors, along with other performance-critical industries, the group leverages the capabilities of its precision casting and machining businesses to deliver first-rate engineering solutions worldwide. It was formed in 2017, by Rob’s predecessor, whose vision was to create a UK-based group of casting businesses, starting with the acquisition of Investacast in Ilfracombe and Haworth Castings in Southampton. This formed the basis for the subsequent acquisitions of Metaltech Precision in Somerset and Tiverton Fabrications in Dev-on.
As a metallurgist with a PhD in nickel-base superalloys, Rob spent 20 years working for manufacturers in Sheffield – known as the UK’s ‘Steel City’ – before moving to Expromet. “Our aim is to be a complete end-to-end manufacturing solution,” Rob shares with Manufacturing Today. “We identified that customers want one manufacturer who can supply a turnkey solution across multiple manufacturing processes and reliably deliver high quality, finished components. The number of companies that can do that is incredibly small.” Expromet’s vision has evolved into becoming a world-class provider of vertically integrated metal manufacturing solutions to these customers – now with a turnover of £35 million per year and an order book that rocketed from £5.5 million to £12.5 million in just 18 months.
Tiverton Fabrications
The acquisition of Tiverton Fabrications (Tiverton) evidences Expromet’s commitment to customer-led growth. “Fabrication is the next process for many of the products we manufacture – when we sell to a customer, they’ll frequently incorporate our components into higher level assemblies or fabrications,” Rob explains. “Therefore, with our expanded offering, we gain control of more of the supply chain whilst solving another problem for the customer.” Tiverton specializes in high-end fabrication for industries including medical, energy and defense, delivering components as diverse as cryogenic vessels and MRI machine cylinders – with only a handful of other companies in this niche across Europe. “Lots of these components have several cylinders inside one another, almost like a Russian doll, and between those walls there are various cooling gases and liquids. Tiverton are world-class leaders at creating these chambers.”
The acquisition of Tiverton also addressed defense demand, as several of Expromet’s largest customers supply land vehicles to the Ministry of Defence. “Expromet’s strategy is to create centers of excellence for each of our specialized capabilities across the group. Tiverton aligns with this strategy through its deep expertise and engineering knowledge, and will become the center of excellence for fabricated solutions in the group.”
Metaltech Precision – part of Expromet – operates more than 60 CNC machines in Somerset, with recent investments including a twin-turret, ten axis Miyano machine and two simultaneous five-axis CNC mills. “Everything we buy now needs to be fully automated,” Rob continues. “We’re in partnership with Yeovil Machine Tools and these new machines can run 24/7. We’re certainly not cutting down on manpower, in fact we’re trying to recruit, but rather than people reloading machines, our skilled machinists design pro-grams so machines work continuously. We can turn the lights off on a Friday and that machine shop runs all weekend. These five-axis machines can run for 30 or 40 hours without anybody getting involved.
“With continued investment in equipment, comes increased opportunities to grow our team and upskill our workforce through structured training programs,” Rob states. The company operates apprenticeship
programs with Yeovil College, and valuable mentorship programs run throughout the organization. “Everybody in my executive team is a mentor to at least one other employee – we want those people to be the future of Expromet. We are committed to building a leadership team from within, rather than relying on external recruitment. Our aim is to grow the next generation of managers.”
Over the next 12 months, acquisitions are on the cards, as Expromet plans to target surface finishing and painting capabilities. “A great deal of the products we manufacture go out for surface treatment, whether that’s anodizing, painting, or shot blasting,” finalizes Rob. “At present, our strong desire is to take greater control of our supply chain, so we can offer that fully integrated and reliable solution our customers need.” Rob’s priority for 2026 remains focused on customer satisfaction, as he describes an unprecedented demand. “Our order book is growing at double-digit percentages every quarter and as a critical supply chain partner, we are committed to delivering on time and with the highest quality. This is our main priority.”
Five years from now, Rob expects Expromet to be a household name within the aerospace, defense and energy manufacturing markets. “I want everybody involved in those sectors to know who we are. For me, that will demonstrate that we’ve kept on delivering competently and reliably and our customers have continued to trust us. In five years’ time our aim is to have grown our presence within our target sectors to the extent we are a trusted partner to all key OEMs and Tier 1s, whilst maintaining uncompromising standards as we grow. In my book, that is what success looks like.”
