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Precision engineering and industrial heritage restoration

A family-run engineering company in Penybryn, near Hengoed, since 1977. We machine, fabricate and make tooling for industry, and we conserve steam engines, waterwheels and colliery machinery for museums, councils and private owners.

The Cardowan winding engine flywheel, rusted and overgrown, before restoration
BeforeYears of neglect
The restored Cardowan winding engine in green with red and brass fittings, inside an exhibition hall
AfterThe Cardowan Winding Engine during installation at Summerlee Heritage Park, 2010
Still run by the original management team ISO 9001:2015 certified Easy access to the A470 and M4

Two divisions, one works

Both divisions share a well-equipped fabrication shop, so we can take a project from the first idea through to packing, delivery and maintenance, by phone, email or a meeting at your premises or ours.

Brass bar being machined on a lathe Small precision turned brass and steel parts beside a pair of callipers A component turning in a lathe chuck under coolant Probe and handwheel on a CNC machine

Precision engineering

Intricate and complex components for the medical, automotive and aerospace industries, designed in DelCam PowerShape, PowerMill and PartMaker. We make tools from your design, or alter and repair existing ones.

  • CNC machining up to 1600 × 800 × 800 mm, with 4-axis work
  • Swiss-type CNC turning to 0.001 mm
  • Wire and spark erosion, with electrodes made in house
  • Vacuum forming, impression and injection tools
  • CMM inspection and reverse engineering of existing parts
More about precision engineering
A restored green waterwheel beside the stone arch of a mill

Conservation engineering

Steam engines, waterwheels and other large industrial objects, restored and maintained with the right materials and methods by a long-serving, apprentice-trained team.

  • Condition reports, technical drawings and option appraisals
  • Cleaning by hand, or shot blasting in a 6 × 6 × 6 m booth
  • Welding repairs to cast and wrought iron, and replica parts
  • Lifting, transport, installation and motorisation
  • Access platforms, barriers and maintenance plans
More about conservation engineering
A welder at work, with sparks flying from the joint

The fabrication shop

Heavy and light fabrication in mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, on or off site. We have made and erected portal steel buildings, hoppers, conveyors, machine guards and bespoke equipment, with folding, rolling, cutting, welding, shot blasting and painting all under one roof.

Bringing a piece of history back to life

A selection of our conservation contracts, from colliery machinery for the national museum to a Scheduled Ancient Monument in Cardiff.

  1. 2012

    Coal face equipment

    Big Pit National Museum of Wales, Blaenavon

    Conservation of coal face machinery for the national coal museum, taking corroded cutting equipment back to display condition.

    A rusted coal-cutter head lying in long grass
    BeforeAs found
    The same style of coal-cutter head restored and painted bright blue
    AfterRestored
  2. 2012

    Colliery pit wheel

    Conservation of coal equipment, Wrexham

    A pit wheel brought back from heavy corrosion and repainted for display.

    A corroded pit wheel set into the ground beside a stone wall
    BeforeOn site, corroded
    The pit wheel restored and painted blue, standing in a landscaped area
    AfterRestored and repainted
  3. 2012

    New Mill waterwheel

    Private owner, Carmarthen

    Conservation and restoration of a mill waterwheel, with the wheel rebuilt in our own workshop.

    A rusted waterwheel against the stone wall of a mill
    BeforeIn a sorry state
    Engineers rebuilding the waterwheel frame inside the Penybryn workshop
    DuringUndergoing restoration
  4. 2011

    Melingriffith waterwheel and pump

    Cardiff Council, Whitchurch

    Conservation and restoration of the waterwheel and pump at Melingriffith, a protected industrial monument.

    Scheduled Ancient Monument
    The Melingriffith pump frame overgrown with vegetation
    Before
    The waterwheel being rebuilt in the workshop
    During
    The restored waterwheel and pump back in place, with new timber paddles
    After

Also restored: the Cardowan Winding Engine for Summerlee Heritage Park in 2010. See the full gallery

Capacity

The main machines in the toolroom and the fabrication shop. Powder coating, heat treatment and galvanising are arranged through trusted suppliers.

Toolroom

Vertical machiningHAAS VF6, up to 1600 × 800 × 800 mm, 4th axis
Swiss-type CNC turningStar SR-20J, Ø22 × 2700 mm, to 0.001 mm
CNC turningHitachi Seiki Hitec-Turn 25R, live milling and sub spindle
Manual turningUp to Ø950 mm, or Ø760 × 3500 mm long
Wire erosionAgie 4-axis CNC, 800 × 800 × 250 mm, ±30° taper
Spark erosionRoboform 40 4-axis CNC, 700 × 400 × 400 mm
Inspection5-axis CMM with PC-DMIS

Fabrication shop

Guillotine10 mm × 4000 mm
Pressing and folding70 t folding to 3000 mm; 50 t and 110 t presses
RollingLight from 4 in; heavy from 6 in to 38 in
Radial arm drillingUp to 80 mm
WeldingAluminium to 12 mm, stainless to 15 mm, mild steel, cast and wrought iron
BurningUp to 200 mm, radiused and straight
FinishingShot blasting and painting in house
Penybryn Engineering's ISO 9001:2015 certificate of registration

ISO 9001:2015 certified

A quality-focused business since 1977, still owned and run by the original management team. Our CMM lets us provide ISO-accredited certification for the components we make, and for yours.

View the certificate

Talk to us about your project

Send drawings, photos or a description of the part, tool or object. For conservation work we’re happy to talk through your requirements with no charge or obligation.

01443 813788 sales@penybrynengineering.co.uk
Address
Penybryn Engineering Ltd, Penybryn Terrace, Penybryn, Hengoed CF82 7GF
Fabrication and conservation
Sian Brake, Fabrication Manager and Conservation Engineer
Toolroom
David Thomas, Toolroom Manager
Getting here
In the Caerphilly area, with easy access to the A470 and M4
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