Clydesdale Engineering Limited

Clydesdale Engineering: Innovation, Simplicity, and British Engineering Excellence

Clydesdale Engineering Limited — 09/05/2025

Recently, members of Made in the Midlands had an exclusive opportunity to visit the historic site of Clydesdale Engineering, gaining valuable insights into best practices, innovative thinking, and teamwork within the engineering sector. The guided factory tour, led by Engineering Director Paul Everist, showcased a thriving business with deep roots in British manufacturing, underscoring the value of simplicity and adaptability in a complex, ever-evolving industrial environment.

Paul Everist, Engineering Director

Clydesdale Engineering is known for its multifaceted operations, spanning automotive, off-highway, aerospace, and defence sectors. The firm’s capabilities include precision press work, fabrication, pedal assemblies, and niche specialisms such as carbon fibre production. Their brands include the renowned Ackles and Pollock, established in the late 19th century and famed for precision tube manufacturing. Paul highlighted, “Accles and Pollock have a rich heritage of precision—some of the tubes we produce are incredibly small, yet vital for high-performance applications. It's a testament to our meticulous engineering standards.”

The site in question, sprawling across 45,000 square meters, is an engineering powerhouse, manufacturing over 7.8 million parts annually for nearly 200 global customers across 27 countries, including Japan, the USA, India, and South Korea. Products range from intricate automotive components for Lotus, Honda, Nissan, and Jaguar Land Rover to robust off-highway assemblies for leading brands like JCB and John Deere

One notable area of expertise showcased during the tour was the company’s involvement in shock and vibration solutions, especially critical in defence applications. Defence Dynamics, though perhaps less visible to the public eye, plays a vital role in naval safety, producing anti-shock mounts capable of reducing explosive shock from 200g forces to a manageable 15g, ensuring critical naval equipment remains operational under severe conditions. Paul noted, “Our Defence Dynamics solutions might not be widely known, but they are absolutely critical. We engineer reliability into extreme environments, safeguarding crucial naval capabilities.”

The factory’s versatile approach was evident in their adaptive methodologies. With a diverse range of products and sectors, Clydesdale Engineering emphasises simplicity in processes, despite the inherent complexity of their outputs. Paul explained, “Complexity can be a barrier to efficiency. Our approach is about maintaining simplicity and clarity wherever possible, even as we handle sophisticated engineering projects.” This pragmatic approach was highlighted through examples such as the rapid deployment of production lines following a client's urgent need. When a major customer's existing supplier went into administration, Clydesdale Engineering swiftly stepped in, setting up production within ten days—significantly faster than typical industry timelines. Such responsiveness underscores their flexibility and customer-centric ethos.

Simon Scott, Amada UK looking pleased to have spotted one of his machines on site

Flexibility is embedded not only in their strategic planning but physically in the layout of their facilities. Visitors noticed equipment and assembly fixtures placed on wheels, facilitating rapid reconfiguration and adjustment of factory spaces to meet fluctuating production demands. Paul commented, “Flexibility is essential. Our ability to quickly adapt our workspace allows us to remain responsive and efficient, adapting swiftly to changing requirements.”

Furthermore, the ethos of simplicity extends deeply into their manufacturing philosophy. Paul emphasised maintaining appropriate complexity controls: “Different products demand different approaches. Aerospace components naturally require exhaustive checks, but simpler products benefit from streamlined processes. Understanding this balance is crucial.” This intelligent discernment of complexity levels is vital in managing their vast portfolio effectively.

Teamwork at Clydesdale Engineering transcends departmental boundaries. The tour highlighted several instances of cross-functional collaboration, including engineers stepping into production roles during peak demand periods and different sector teams exchanging ideas to optimise processes. Paul proudly remarked, “Teamwork here is fundamental. Our success comes from leveraging collective expertise across departments. It’s truly collaborative innovation.”

Continuous improvement was a recurring theme throughout the tour. Despite a century-old history and significant legacy, Clydesdale Engineering remains keenly aware of ongoing improvement opportunities. Paul candidly acknowledged operational challenges: “We’re always mindful of continuous improvement. Even with our storied history, we focus on incremental improvements with clear benefits. It’s a disciplined, targeted approach that keeps us ahead.” Rather than attempting wholesale changes simultaneously, the company targets manageable improvements with clear, impactful outcomes—a strategy that aligns perfectly with lean manufacturing and agile principles.

Jason Pitt, Made in the Midlands, Paul Everist, Clydesdale Engineering and Ilona Pitt, Made in the Midlands

Clydesdale Engineering’s success illustrates how embracing simplicity, nurturing flexible operations, and fostering a strong collaborative culture can yield outstanding results in complex industrial environments. By prioritising adaptability and innovation, the company continues to thrive, maintaining an essential role in supporting and advancing British industry. Paul concluded, “Our heritage drives us forward, but it’s innovation and teamwork that ensures our future. We are proud to contribute actively to the strength of British engineering.”

Clydesdale Engineering Exhibiting At DPRTE 2025

Clydesdale Engineering Limited — 13/01/2025

We are excited to announce that we’ll be exhibiting at DPRTE 2025! In its first-ever two-day iteration, this conference will connect industry innovators with MOD and private-sector buyers and decision-makers alike, making it the leading event in defence procurement. Join the Clydesdale Engineering Ltd and the ACCLES AND POLLOCK team to explore how we’re contributing to the future of defence capabilities.

#DPRTE2025 #DefenceProcurement #shockmounts #anitivibration #pressing #presswork #fabrication #levers #pedals #tubemanipulation #lasercutting #ukmanufacturing

Laser Cut and Press Brake

Clydesdale Engineering Limited — 11/02/2026

We operate two 3-axis laser cutting machines in tandem with material stacking facilities, capable of running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These machines feature a robust 9KW power rating and incorporate the latest cutting-edge technology.

Laser cutting: Our automatic tower solutions encompass the seamless loading and unloading of sheets to and from the laser machines, along with the storage of both raw materials and finished sheets. This system optimises laser utilisation while enabling the handling of various material types, including steel, aluminium, and stainless steel, through the use of suction cups. The tower storage system offers a modular configuration, allowing users to customise the number of pallets for raw materials and stacking.

The 9KW laser head delivers precision cutting for materials up to 20mm thick. It also provides the option to use Oxygen and is equipped with our in-house Nitrogen generator, making it suitable for cutting most metals. Additionally, the 9KW AMADA Auto Collimation system ensures unrivalled laser beam spot control, while AMADA’s Variable Beam Control technology adjusts the laser mode, enabling the processing of different materials and thicknesses with a single cutting lens.

This system ensures high-quality results and efficient processing, particularly for medium to thick materials and very high-speed piercing.

Our laser cutting capabilities are complemented by a trio of Amada Press brakes, offering a range of press brake machines with various technologies, sizes, and tooling options. This diversity allows us to provide tailored solutions to meet your specific goals.

Clydesdale Engineering Exhibiting At Combined Naval Event 2025

Clydesdale Engineering Limited — 25/04/2025

We are proud to be exhibiting at the NAVY LEADERS COMBINED NAVAL EVENT IN FARNBOROUGH 20TH - 22ND MAY 2025.

Visit the CLYDESDALE ENGINEERING LTD team on stand G09 to learn more about the products and services we provide through our operating divisions DEFENCE DYNAMICS and ACCLES AND POLLOCK

#navyleaders, #combinednavalevent, #defenceprocurement, #shockmounts, #anitivibration, #pressing, #presswork, #fabrication, #levers, #pedals, #tubemanipulation, #lasercutting, #ukmanufacturing