Page 12 - High Duty Alloys

Redditch Heritage High Duty Alloys

The Site

The construction of the new factory was first announced in the Redditch Indicator
newspaper on September 17th 1938 and work started on October 18th.

The mill pond at Forge Mill had been constructed so that water power could be used for
needle scouring. At HDA the water was used for cooling purposes being constantly
circulated and re-circulated between pond and works. A special system of hydrants also
enabled the mill water to be used in the event of fires from air raids.

The proximity of Redditch Gas Works was another key factor in location the works in
Windsor Road in Redditch. Large ammounts og gas are neated to power the furnances
the heat the billets to be forged. The willingness of the gas company to supply that gas,
and their readiness to erect a second gas holder to facilitate that supply were crucial in
the decision to locate the shadow factor in Redditch.

The Erie Hammer

A huge 460 ton hammer, largest of its type in the world with a 29 ton forging weight, had
been ordered from the Erie company in America and this arrived

On 9th January having been offloaded at Thames wharf and transported to Redditch by
the L.M.S. Railway. Carriage had been undertaken on wagons nominally used for naval
guns and was one of the largest pieces of transport work to have been attempted in the
town at the time. Some parts that were too wide for the normal loading gauge made the
journey on a Sunday to interfere as little as possible with regular traffic 1,800 tons of
concrete were used to complete the Erie's foundations.

The Opening Ceremony

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