UK Metal Spinning Services for Craft, Sheet & Stainless Steel
Hand Metal Spinning
Hydraulic Metal Spinning
CNC Metal Spinning
Flow Forming
Shear Forming
Flange Forming
OTHER SERVICES
Decades of Metal Spinning Expertise
Winward Engineering is one of the largest independent metal spinners in the UK, proudly serving industries such as aerospace, automotive and architecture since 1946. We are ISO 9001 certified, which means every pass that we make meets the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and traceability.
Whether you need a single spinning, prototypes, small batches, or mass production, we’re dedicated to delivering metal spun components that are on time, affordable, and spun to the highest quality craftsmanship.
Expert Metal Spinning in Aldridge, Walsall
Our factory is located at the heart of the UK in Aldridge, Walsall. We are just 10 minutes away from the M6 and 30 minutes away from Birmingham, giving us an ideal location to serve both UK and international customers.
Metals we work with
Explore the wide range of metals that we spin to meet your unique manufacturing needs:
Steel
Stainless Steel
Aluminium
Brass
Copper
Nickel Alloys
Inconel
Monel
Platinum
Tantalum
Titanium
Zirconium
Beryllium
Molybdenum
Corten
Hastalloy
Zinc
Silver
Bronze
Kovar
Zintec
Galvanised
Carbon Steel
Haynes
Pewter
Tin
With origins dating back to ancient Egypt, Hand Metal spinning is a time-honoured metal forming process. Using handmade, hand-held tools, the spinner uses leverage to manually form flat sheet metal or tube into a custom, symmetrical shape. Tooling costs associated with metal spinning is significantly less than metal pressing allowing for one offs, prototypes and low-medium volumes in a wide range of designs.
Hydraulic Metal Spinning is a highly effective and reliable metal spinning process that utilises a specialist hydraulic powered lathe to manually form thick and/or large components in small to medium batches. Perfect for creating custom parts for industries such as architecture, food, pressure and general engineering, or for standard components such as cones, cylinders, hemispheres, domes and dished ends.
PNC (Programmable Numerical Control) metal spinning is an advanced metal spinning process that incorporates traditional experience with CNC automation.
In contrast to a traditional CNC system, PNC uses teach-in technology, where operators can manually control spinning rollers and/or tools and record their movements for future production. This flexibility allows for the cost-effective production of large volumes with exceptional accuracy and repeatability.
Widely used in industries such as lighting, HVAC and general engineering, CNC(PNC) metal spinning reduces lead times and unit costs for a wide range of industries.
Flow Forming
Flow Forming is an advanced metal spinning process that begins with a pre-formed tube or bowl mounted on a mandrel and securely clamped in place. Then three or more rollers apply radial pressure onto the rotating workpiece and "stretch" it in an axial direction, thus reducing the wall thickness but extending the length of the workpiece. This enables a precise control over the thinning and elongation of the material, reduces material waste and enhances the component’s structural integrity. Flow forming is perfect for manufacturing high-precision cylindrical or conical components with improved strength and durability, it is widely used in industries such as pressure, nuclear, and general engineering.
Shear Forming
Shear Forming (also known as shear spinning) is an advanced metal spinning process used in industries such as food, architecture, and general engineering. Unlike traditional spinning, shear forming uses the controlled thinning of the material to create tapered components 18° or more in a single-pass spinning operation.
Flange Forming
Flange Forming is an advanced metal spinning process widely used in industries such as HVAC, lighting, and general engineering. This process is used to create flanges or outward extensions on pre-formed tubes, or cylindrical components but often requires a female tool to perform the operation.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Metal Spinning?
Metal spinning, also known as spin forming, shear spinning, flow forming, or chipless forming, is a highly skilled metal forming process where a metal disk, tube or pre-formed component is rotated at high speeds on a lathe and shaped using localized force and custom tooling.
Traditionally, metal spinning is done manually with hand-held tools. A spinning large or thick was spun by multiple spinners to apply the necessary force. However, the introduction of specialised hydraulic lathes allowed for the manufacture of thick or large components with ease. Eventually PNC (Programmable Numerical Control) and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) lathes revolutionized the process, enabling high-volume production runs with consistent quality.
Why should I choose Metal Spinning over other manufacturing methods?
Metal spinning can be used for a very wide range of symmetrical shapes and designs, this combined with low tooling costs, reduced material waste, and the ability to create seamless components with a high strength to weight ratio, makes metal spinning a very valid option over traditional production methods such as stamping, machining and casting.
How large/small can you spin?
We can spin parts from 10mm in diameter up to 3200 mm in diameter, allowing us to accommodate a wide range of industries and applications.
What is the thickest material that you can spin?
We can spin up to 20mm in aluminium, 12mm in steel and 8mm in stainless steel. However, this can vary between grades. If you are unsure if we can complete your spinning, please contact our sales team to discuss your requirements.
What metals can you spin?
Commonly spun metals include 1XXX series aluminium, mild steel, brass, soft copper, and stainless steel.
For specialised applications, we can spin metals such as Titanium, Inconel, Nickel, Tantalum, and many more. Metals such as Stainless Steel and High-Temperature Alloys (such as Inconel and Haynes) are prone to work hardening, which can make deeper components more challenging to spin. In this case, the spinning process may require hot-forming or intermediate annealing to achieve the desired shape.
If you are unsure if we can complete your spinning, please contact our sales team to discuss your requirements.
Do you have a MOQ?
At Winward Engineering Ltd, we don’t have a minimum order quantity (MOQ). Whether you need a single metal spinning or a full-scale production run, we’re here to deliver high-quality, custom components tailored to your specific requirements.
Are you equipped for large batches and mass production?
Yes, we are fully equipped to handle large batches and mass production, including long production runs and continuous production schedules. Our unique combination of metal pressing and CNC metal spinning gives us the ability to produce highly accurate and competitive parts in high quantities.
What should I consider when designing parts for Metal Spinning?
When you’re designing a part for metal spinning, a few small tweaks can make a big difference to how quick and cheap the component can be. Aim for smooth, flowing curves rather than abrupt angles or sudden changes in diameter. These gentle transitions not only spin more easily but also help to keep your production costs down.
Materials with a high ductility such as 1XXX series aluminium or cold rolled steel require the least force to spin, making them the most cost-effective.
Traditional metal spinning can cause up to 35% material thickness reduction. However, some specialised techniques such as shear forming or flow forming can cause a higher percentage of material thinning. Some designs may require collapsible or several tools to form the part. If you think your part is suited for metal spinning, or if you want to speak to someone about our metal spinning service, contact our sales team today for expert assistance.
What does Metal Spinning tooling look like and what is it made from?
Metal spinning tooling is required to support the metal. The most common type of tooling is "male" tooling, which matches the internal dimensions of the final product, the spinner uses this tool to hold the shape whilst they form the metal externally. We also use "female" tooling, which holds the blank or pre-formed part internally, which is perfect for features like flanges or returned edges. Certain parts may need multiple or "collapsible" tools to achieve the desired shape.
At Winward Engineering Ltd, we design and manufacture all metal spinning tools in-house. Our expert toolmakers begin by turning each tool on both traditional and CNC lathes. We send steel tools to our long-standing subcontractors for heat treatment. This ensures exceptional durability and a consistent performance throughout the tools working life.
Metal spinning tools can also be made from wood or nylon. These materials provide a budget-friendly option but are much less durable than steel tooling. While they may suit certain prototypes or short-runs, steel tooling is our preferred choice for most applications due to its stability, precision, and longevity.