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At Somers, we believe that nurturing new talent is essential to driving innovation and sustaining the future of our industry. That’s why we’re excited to officially welcome our newest apprentices, Joshua, Aiden and Archie to the team!

Since joining us, these three have immersed themselves in the daily operations of our maintenance and machining departments. From working with precision tools, to understanding the complexities of heavy machinery maintenance, Joshua, Aiden and Archie are approaching their roles with enthusiasm and a desire to learn.

Each apprentice brings a unique perspective to our workforce, offering fresh ideas that energise our team. Their eagerness to grow and hands-on approach to every task aligns perfectly with the values we hold in our apprenticeship program.

Our Apprenticeship Program

Our four-year apprenticeship programme is designed to provide in-depth training, equipping apprentices with both mechanical and electrical maintenance skills. In their first year, the apprentices will attend Worcester College, where they’ll develop a solid academic foundation. As they progress through the programme, they’ll gain an industry recognised qualification, receive mentorship from experienced professionals, and collaborate on real-world projects that will enhance their expertise and confidence.  

‘We take great pride in our apprenticeship programme’ says Alex Cross, General Manager, who himself began his journey here as a graduate. ‘It’s all about investing in the future of the company by equipping young talent with the skills and mentorship they need to thrive. Watching our apprentices immerse themselves in their roles and grow alongside our team is truly rewarding. Their energy and dedication remind me of my own early days, and I’m confident they’ll play a key role in shaping our future.’

If you, or someone you know, is interested in pursuing an apprenticeship with us, don’t hesitate to get in touch! We are always looking for passionate individuals eager to contribute to our growing team.

Last week was truly a special time for our company as we had the privilege of hosting Rear Admiral Doull CBE! This visit follows us receiving the Collaboration & Diligence award by the Dreadnought Alliance Supply Forum. Showing our family-owned business based in Halesowen can compete with the biggest engineering names.

Supporting The Royal Navy’s Submarine Fleet

During the visit, Rear Admiral Doull witnessed our advanced forging process with a 20-tonne shaft being forged on our 4000-tonne press. He also observed our meticulous craftsmanship and quality control measures that goes into every one of our produced components, essential for the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.

Jon Warr Sales Director, “It was an honour to welcome the Rear Admiral Doull to Somers Forge. This visit reaffirms our commitment to supply the highest quality critical components for the UK submarine programme and underscores the importance of local manufacturing in supporting the national defence effort”.

New Brinell Hardness Tester

We are continuing to invest in the latest technologies and equipment to meet the needs of our customers. Our most recent investment is in our testing equipment, investing £180,000 in a Foundrax X-BHD Brinell hardness Tester. Foundrax are widely known to have the highest hardness performance within the industry and build machines to operate in the toughest industrial environments, making it a perfect fit for us. Having this machine will ensure we continue to produce products to the highest quality and remove human error.

Benefits of the Foundrax X-BHD

Investing in this machine was an important decision as it provides a high degree of reliability, repeatability and accuracy that is key to achieving long-term success. Dependable data, and accurate readings that are gathered will allow us to improve performance over time. Other benefits of this machine include auditable processes, pass and fail statuses as well as decreasing the test cycle by 50%.

To ensure parts are produced with the highest level of precision, we will be placing sawing and testing operations in one designated area which will improve and increase workflow. The installation of the integral Brintronic automatic microscope in the machine has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for heavy engineering. With this technology, it is now possible to achieve laboratory-like results in a heavy engineering setting! This new technology allows direct readings and recordings of results to be gathered without any extra effort or time, providing valuable insights and data that can be used to improve processes and efficiency.

Features the machine has include being able to measure multiple diameters and having a heavy-duty static test bed what can test large components. The equipment also has longevity in mind and comes with an internal component of the Type B and Type D test head, which are rated 4x factor of safety, and actuator column is rated at 6x.

Recent Investments

Investment is an integral part of any company’s growth and is at the fore front of our minds. Most recently, we have invested in a new CNC vertical borer and acquired the Oldbury based engineering firm, A&B Richardson Engineering. This has further increased our capabilities and capacity to meet the ever-increasing demand for precision machined forgings. This new investment will ensure that we can continue to provide the highest quality products and services to our customers.