Trusted partnership drives growth for Billington Structures

Think back to when Manchester United won the treble, The Matrix redefined cinema and the Millenium Dome was London’s latest architectural icon. Around that time, Billington Structures Ltd and Ficep UK began a partnership which has stood the test of time.

Over 25 years later, this collaboration - based on shared goals and trust - has helped Billington, one of the UK’s leading structural steel fabricators, improve its operations and remain at the forefront of its industry.

Focused on structural steel and safety solutions, Billington has over 500 employees, an annual turnover of £130 million and facilities across the UK, including Barnsley, Sheffield and Yate near Bristol. As part of the Billington Holdings Group, the company has relied on Ficep’s technology and support to continue growing and delivering high-quality results.

The partnership began when Billington installed its first Ficep cope machine at its site in Wombwell. Kevin Campbell, Billington Structures’ Managing Director, joined Billington in 2002 and has been closely involved in this collaboration. Over the years, Billington has purchased more than a dozen machines from Ficep, ranging from replacements for older models to new machines aimed at increasing efficiency and capability.

In 2017, Billington acquired its site in Shafton for Shafton Steel Services. Major upgrades to the facility included Billington’s investment in Ficep’s advanced equipment, including a Corimpex column and boom machine, an Endeavor saw drill, and a Gemini machine for plate processing. These systems significantly improved the range and precision of work carried out at Shafton Steel Services.

Building on this success, Billington invested in a Ficep Valiant machine at its Wombwell site, which combines sawing, drilling, scribing, and milling into one unit. This change consolidated operations and also boosted productivity. Seeing the benefits of the Valiant, Billington went on to install the same system at its Bristol facility, where the automation features of the Valiant made operations even more efficient.

The introduction of Ficep Gemini machines marked another key step in the partnership. These machines allowed Billington to handle multiple tasks - such as chamfering, drilling, and plasma cutting - on a single platform. Kevin Campbell says: “We decided to invest in a second Gemini to enhance productivity. The two gantries allow us to process longer plates and fittings simultaneously.”

Billington also turned to Ficep for its laser processing technology. The company purchased a Ficep Cutlite machine, capable of cutting material up to 50mm thick. After seeing the machine in action at Ficep’s UK open house and later visiting the factory in Italy, Billington was convinced of its capabilities. Kevin says: “The thing that impressed us most was the fact that the laser was cutting material up to 50mm thick. Since its installation, we’ve found the productivity much better than we expected. The quality of parts is second to none.”

Ficep provides ongoing support, including maintenance contracts and innovative solutions like its vending machine for consumables. These services ensure that Billington’s equipment remains operational and efficient.

Chris Berriman, sales director at Ficep UK, says: “When specifying a machine with Billington, we listen to everyone from the CEO to shop floor operators. This approach helps us understand their needs and deliver the right solutions for the business.”

Says Kevin: “Billington continues to work with Ficep UK - the machines are first class, they're investing, researching, developing new machines, new products, new benefits for us all the time. The Billington / Ficep partnership over the past 25-30 years has seen Billington grow as a business, offer more products and maintain our competitiveness and our productivity. And part of the reason for that is the support we've had from Ficep.”