Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd

Top Safety Accreditation for Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 05/04/2018

Local business Pentangle Engineering has been awarded accreditation from Alcumus SafeContractor for achieving excellence in health and safety in the workplace.

Alcumus SafeContractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises extremely rigorous standards in health and safety management amongst contractors. It is used by thousands of organisations in the UK including SMEs and FTSE 100 companies.

Employing 27 people, Pentangle Engineering is involved in many different sectors, specialising in Robotic and Automation turnkey systems, covering a variety of processes including welding and handling.

The companys application for SafeContractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business. SafeContractor accreditation will enhance the companys ability to win new contracts, and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.

Gemma Archibald, Director of Alcumus SafeContractor said: "Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place."

"More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Pentangle Engineering has done. The firms high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector. SafeContractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.

Proud to be main partners

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 03/08/2017

http://www.iliffemediapromotions.co.uk/grantham-journal-business-awards-2017/

It is great privilege to be part of the local awards again !!

Sub Contract Robotic Welding

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 02/05/2018

As well as designing and manufacturing new and bespoke robotic systems, we also offer a sub contract robotic welding service.

We have found that we are able to assist several companies who are unable to financially commit to new systems, are suffering from a skilled welder shortage or just need some extra capacity due to ramping up of orders.

Some customers have provided their own tooling and we have designed and manufactured for others, using our own in house services.

Please feel free to contact us if you think that we may be able to help you.

Pentangle Engineering.....Here to help

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 11/08/2017

Pentangle Engineering is your one stop shop for Robotic and Automation applications.

"Hello" from a new member

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 20/06/2017

As new members to Made in the Midlands, we would like to say "Hello" and let you know that we are here to help you with any Robotic or Automation applications that you already have or are maybe considering.

We look forward to getting to meet some of you at the Made in the Midlands functions in the near future.....until then, keep busy :-)

Pentangle Engineering: Backing Britain Through Skills, Community, and Innovation

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 26/08/2025

In towns and cities across the UK, engineering firms form the backbone of the economy. They may not always make the headlines, but they are the lifeblood of British industry, investing in skills, creating jobs, and driving innovation. One such company is Pentangle Engineering, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

For Managing Director Nigel Rivers, “Backing Britain” isn’t a slogan, it’s a lived philosophy. From training apprentices to opening doors to local schools, from investing in cutting-edge automation to creating a workplace built on respect, Pentangle represents the kind of community anchored manufacturing business that keeps UK industry alive.

Opening the Doors to the Next Generation

If there’s one challenge facing British manufacturing today, it’s skills. Many experienced engineers are reaching retirement age, and too few young people see engineering as a viable, exciting career.

Rivers has taken matters into his own hands. “We like to employ local,” he explains, “but everyone we knew in engineering is now in their 60s. We’ve got to bring in a younger workforce, and that means training.”

Pentangle has partnered with local schools to deliver real, hands-on education. Every week, students come into the company’s workshops to learn the practical side of their engineering BTEC, from reading drawings to drilling holes and completing small projects. Over time, this has fed directly into Pentangle’s apprenticeship programme: nearly 20% of the company’s workforce are apprentices, a figure far above the national average.

It’s a model of what “Backing Britain” means at the ground level: not waiting for government or policy to solve the skills crisis, but taking proactive steps to grow local talent.

From Conservatory to Cutting-Edge

Pentangle’s story is rooted in resilience and ambition. Launched in 2004 from Rivers’ conservatory, with meetings around a colleague’s kitchen table, the business has grown into a supplier of robotic welding and automated machinery with four units and 28 staff.

This trajectory has been powered by bold investment. Pentangle has added a £500,000 laser cutter and several robotic welding cells worth £100,000 each, equipment that not only drives productivity but also acts as a demonstration facility for customers. “Clients can bring in parts, see them welded robotically, test the results, and take data away,” Rivers explains.

In a period when UK industry must compete globally on cost, efficiency, and speed, such investments ensure Britain can remain competitive.

Values That Strengthen Community

Backing Britain isn’t just about machines; it’s about people. Rivers leads with two core values—honesty and respect. “I’m an accidental MD,” he says. “I don’t wear a suit, I eat with the team, I talk at their level. It’s a family, even though we’re not related. If someone’s struggling, we support them.”

This ethos of openness extends beyond the shop floor. Pentangle takes part in National Manufacturing Day, inviting schools in to see modern engineering in action. The company also shares its story publicly, warts and all.

On platforms like LinkedIn, Rivers isn’t afraid to show vulnerability. He writes candidly about the challenges of running a business and the pressures facing UK manufacturing. “You can’t just promote positives all the time,” he insists. “Sharing problems brings advice and support. It’s about the group, not the individual.”

Automation: Securing Britain’s Future

Far from being a threat to jobs, automation is, in Rivers’ view, a lifeline for UK competitiveness. “It’s bittersweet,” he admits. “Yes, machines replace some skills, but those skills aren’t there. Automation supports British industry.”

This echoes broader research showing that with one in five workers retiring by the end of the decade, automation isn’t displacing people, it’s filling gaps and ensuring output continues. For firms like Pentangle, which specialise in robotics and automation, the shift is both an opportunity and a responsibility.

Looking ahead, Rivers sees AI as the next frontier, not just in robotics but in back-office functions such as quoting and project management. “We need to look at how AI can streamline the way we work,” he says, pointing to productivity gains that will allow small UK firms to compete with international rivals.

A Call to Back Britain

When asked directly what “Backing Britain” means to him, Rivers is clear: “We’ve lost our way terribly with industry. We used to be world-renowned, the best at certain things and I still believe we are. But we’re not seeing it, we’re not backing it, and we’re not putting our voices behind it. We need to step up.”

For Rivers, that means being visible, sharing successes, inviting in schools, collaborating with other local firms. It means building a succession plan so Pentangle outlives its founders. And it means continuing to invest in both people and technology so that UK manufacturing remains competitive.

Pentangle as a Microcosm of UK Industry

The story of Pentangle is not unique, but that’s precisely the point. Across the UK, hundreds of similar firms form the hidden strength of the economy. They don’t often grab headlines, but they are training apprentices, investing in advanced manufacturing, and holding communities together through good jobs and opportunities.

Pentangle shows what happens when a business doesn’t just talk about “Backing Britain,” but lives it:

20% apprenticeships, rooted in school partnerships.
Multi-million-pound investment in robotics and laser technology.
Open doors to community, education, and collaboration.
A culture of respect, honesty, and inclusion.

From conservatory beginnings to a modern automation powerhouse, Pentangle Engineering demonstrates that the future of UK industry doesn’t lie in looking abroad, it lies in backing Britain.

Brand New Laser Up and Running

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 04/04/2022

We are excited to announce that our fabrications department is now in full swing with our brand new Bystronic BySmart 4KW Fiber laser.

Cut sheet sizes are 3M x 1.5M ranging material thicknesses from 0.5mm to 20mm.

Mild steel (20mm), stainless steel (15mm), Aluminium (20mm), Brass (8mm) and Copper (8mm).

Currently plenty of spare capacity for sub-contract work.

Supported by a Bystronic 160T C.N.C press and a team of BSEN-1090 qualified welders, we can supply sub-contract services from pure laser cutting to fully fabricated assemblies.

Get in touch if you think that we can help you.

Full Fabrication Services

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 23/06/2017

As well as offering turn key machine build solutions, we also have our own fabrication company....Pentangle Fabrications.

We are able to offer a whole array of sub-contract services from laser cutting, CNC press brake, Robotic batch welding and general fabrication.

As well as Pentangle having skilled mechanical and electrical engineers, we also have ties with local machining and finishing companies to be able to offer a completed product if required.

Check out our Fabrication company at www.pentangle-fabrications.co.uk

Why Automate?

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 07/08/2023

Benefits of automation and robotic solutions.

Manufacturing is undergoing a transformation. Businesses are making the most of the opportunities presented by new technology. They are investing in new equipment, upgrading existing plant and investing in new manufacturing facilities — creating ‘smart factories’. Smart factories that utilise digital technologies including robots and automated processes.

By incorporating robots and industrial automation into manufacturing, businesses enhance safety, save time, boost quality production, reduce monitoring and lower their costs. The result? Tier 1, Tier 2 and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) have higher productivity, greater efficiency and more profitability.

As a supplier of automation machinery and robotic automation to Tier 2 suppliers, Pentangle Engineering benefits its customers by creating bespoke solutions that:

Lower operating costs
Improve worker safety
Support operations where labour is in short supply
Remove repetitive, low-skill tasks
Reduce factory lead times
Create a faster return on investment
Allow manufacturers to be more competitive, nationally and globally
Increase production output
Create a better working environment for all
Improve part production quality and consistency
Result in more flexible and innovative production methods
Reduce the environmental footprint
Free employees to do more engaging and skilled tasks
Allow Tier 1 and OEMs to bring some production back in house

New Powder Coat plant installed

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 06/04/2022

Exciting times at Pentangle Engineering !!

After the successful installation of the brand new Bystronic laser, we have a brand new powder coat plant hot on it's heels.

Both the Oven and the spray booth are 3M x 2M capacity.

Installation and commissioning has just been completed...so it is over to us now.

Watch this space !!

Why Automate?

Pentangle Engineering Services Ltd — 07/08/2023

Benefits of automation and robotic solutions.

As a supplier of automation machinery and robotic automation to Tier 2 suppliers, Pentangle Engineering benefits its customers by creating bespoke solutions that:

Lower operating costs
Improve worker safety
Support operations where labour is in short supply
Remove repetitive, low-skill tasks
Reduce factory lead times
Create a faster return on investment
Allow manufacturers to be more competitive, nationally and globally
Increase production output
Create a better working environment for all
Improve part production quality and consistency
Result in more flexible and innovative production methods
Reduce the environmental footprint
Free employees to do more engaging and skilled tasks
Allow Tier 1 and OEMs to bring some production back in house