100 Years of Craftsmanship and Innovation
Since 1926, Stainless Plating Ltd has been part of Sheffield’s proud industrial story. Over the last 100 years we have built our own reputation on craftsmanship, technical expertise and a commitment to continually moving forward.
We were incorporated on 3 September 1926, originally specialising in decorative chrome electroplating and industrial hard chrome plating. From our first premises at the Chrome Plate Works in Brown Street, close to Sheffield city centre, we quickly established ourselves as one of Yorkshire’s leading electroplating companies.
Quality and innovation have been important to us from the very beginning. In 1928, just two years after our company was founded, our chromium-plated steel products received approval from the Good Housekeeping Institute. Alongside chromium plating, we developed expertise across a wide range of metal-finishing processes, including nickel, cadmium, copper, tin and zinc plating.
The Start of Our Aerospace Journey
As Britain entered the Second World War, much of our capacity was dedicated to supporting the war effort, using processes including Cadmium Plating, Tin Plating and Silver Plating.
During this period, we secured approvals from the Air Ministry and other defence and aviation authorities. This marked the beginning of our long association with industries in which precision, consistency, quality and reliability are essential principles which continue to define our work today.
In June 1954, Stainless Plating was purchased by Sheffield businessman Harry Bottom.
In 1956, Harry expanded the business further through the purchase of William Bowker & Sons Ltd, a Sheffield electroplating company whose own history stretched back to 1889. Bowker was particularly well known for silver plating traditional Sheffield holloware and cutlery.
The two businesses were brought together at an enlarged factory on Staveley Road. In 1966, the combined businesses began trading under the single Stainless Plating Ltd name, bringing together generations of Sheffield plating knowledge and expertise.
Talented People are our Foundation and Future
In November 1996, we moved into our purpose-built Don Road premises and introduced new technologies, improved our processes and continued to develop our capabilities for the industries we serve.
In 2008 Steve Matthews acquired the SPL business with the goal to be a first-class partner to the world’s biggest aerospace businesses.
Today, and throughout our 100-year history, technologies and customer expectations have changed enormously. Our ability to adapt, invest, innovate and improve has enabled Stainless Plating Ltd to remain at the forefront of our specialist field.
But our story has always been about more than innovation and technology. It is a story created by generations of people whose skill, knowledge, commitment and pride in their work have made Stainless Plating Ltd what it is today.
Reaching our 100th anniversary is an achievement of which we can all be immensely proud.
When you take ownership of a business with this much history, you have a responsibility to respect what has come before, but also to ensure it continues to move forward.
I am incredibly proud of what SPL and its people have achieved, and reaching 100 years is a milestone that everyone associated with the business should celebrate.
Steve Matthews
Thank You
We would like to thank all employees – past & present, our valued suppliers and partners, all FMT aerospace colleagues and everyone else who played their part in our great history.
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