Tata Steel is transforming its Corby steel tube production site in Northamptonshire which will give the business the best chance of a strong future.

Work has started at the 150-acre site which produces vital products for everything from sports stadium and iconic skyscrapers – such as the Shard in London – to hospital beds and renewable green energy schemes around the world. Workers at the site produce steel tube products from steel made at the company’s Port Talbot works.

Now manufacturing processes on the site will be brought closer together as part of the £25 million scheme which is being paid for in part with the sale of land freed up by the changes as well as savings from operational improvements.

Chairman of Tata Steel UK Ltd, Sandip Biswas, said: “Steel is, and will continue to be, an essential part of the UK’s plans to decarbonise for the future.

“We need to ensure we are able to make and supply the products right here in the UK which will help transition to a net-zero future.”

Tata Steel Corby Works Manager, Gary Blackman, said: “The programme is essential to ensuring a sustainable future for our site and generations of steel workers to come. It will enable us to reconfigure our operations and achieve the highest levels of operational efficiency.”

The two-year investment project will see the creation of a single high-tech warehouse, the relocation and upgrading of the important rectangular hollow section (RHS) processing line and the cold mill (CFM). These are where many of the most important products produced by the Corby site are made.

Sustainability is at the core of the improvements with material from old concrete floors being recycled on site to help create the sub-base for the warehouse. Meanwhile the relocation of the RHS and CFM processes will see improved efficiency and reduced energy consumption.

At the same time Tata Steel will work closely with construction partners and the local authority to ensure minimal impact on the surrounding community during the project.

Work has now started to create the warehouse. Nigel Chudley who is leading the project said: “We are creating a single site warehouse within the East Works, which will allow the closure of the South warehouse.