The factory’s body maker machines have been renovated. Credit: William Says & Co Ltd.

Fourth generation-owned canmaker William Say & Co has invested £850,000 in its three-acre London site, introducing new technology as part of an extensive refurbishment of the factory’s essential equipment.

A key part of the refurbishment is the addition of a cutting line to the existing can-making facilities. Costing more than £500,000, the machine allows metal sheets to be cut in two different directions in one pass. 

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

This means the metal sheet flows in one direction, rather than turning for a second cut as is the case in standard cutting machines. The new machinery reduces tolerance levels and material wastage, as well as giving extra capacity and contingency to the existing machinery, which will remain in service.

William Say has also refurbished the factory’s power presses, some of which date from the mid-twentieth century. These make the lids and bottoms of William Say’s metal containers.

The factory’s body maker machines have also been renovated. This equipment turns a cut, flat body into a cylinder before the bottom of the tin is seamed on. 

See Also:

Each body maker has been fully decommissioned and returned for deep maintenance where it has been stripped to its core and rebuilt with most of its moving parts replaced. Modern features have also been added, including new sensors and switches to increase production accuracy.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

William Say has also rejuvenated its collection of hand-powered can-making tools, dating from the early 1900s, to create a visitor workshop. Operators can build a can from scratch using machinery modified with enhanced safety features. This allows less experienced personnel to create a usable prototype while learning about the can manufacturing process.

Sales and marketing director Stuart Wilkinson commented: “We need a variety of technologies and equipment, and of course our power press stalwarts to ensure we continue to manufacture for the next ninety years and beyond.”