Precision Engineering with a Global Reach

From landmark infrastructure in London to specialist projects supporting the UK’s nuclear industry, Ace Polishing Services has quietly built a reputation as one of the country’s leading metal polishing specialists.

Based in Rochdale, the family-run business has spent more than 20 years delivering high-precision polishing services across sectors including nuclear, food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, aerospace and architecture. While the company doesn’t manufacture components itself, it plays a critical role within complex UK supply chains, providing the specialist finishing expertise that allows customers to meet exacting industry standards.

Today, Ace Polishing Services is proving that a highly skilled business from Rochdale can compete on both a national and international stage, while contributing to the borough’s growing reputation as a destination for advanced manufacturing and engineering excellence.

Raising the Bar with Fit For Nuclear

Earlier this year, Ace Polishing Services achieved Fit For Nuclear (F4N) accreditation, a nationally recognised programme designed to help manufacturers meet the demanding requirements of the UK’s civil nuclear sector.

The accreditation demonstrates that a business has the quality systems, leadership, continuous improvement processes and operational capability expected within one of the world’s most highly regulated industries.

Although Ace Polishing Services was already supplying customers within the nuclear sector, achieving F4N reinforces its position as a trusted supply chain partner.

“We were already carrying out nuclear work but Fit For Nuclear gives us that extra level of confidence and credibility. Alongside our ISO certifications and SafeContractor accreditation, it demonstrates that we meet the highest standards expected by the industry.”

The journey to accreditation took 18 months. Following significant changes to the national programme, the business had to pause before restarting the process. Much of the work involved strengthening documentation, refining internal systems and ensuring every process was clearly evidenced.

Rather than changing the way the company delivers its specialist polishing services, the accreditation strengthened governance, documentation and business resilience, creating an even stronger platform for future growth.

 Supported by the Business Growth Hub

Ace Polishing Services credits the GM Business Growth Hub, a partner of the Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), with playing a significant role throughout its growth journey.

Working closely with the Manufacturing Team, the business received practical guidance throughout the Fit For Nuclear process, helping navigate complex requirements and ensuring everything was in place for accreditation.

“Martin and Andy couldn’t have been more helpful. There were areas that were completely new to us, and they helped us organise the business, understand the requirements and pull everything together. They’ve been invaluable.”

The support didn’t stop there.

The Business Growth Hub also helped the company secure funding to introduce digital production management systems across the workshop. Paper job sheets have now been replaced with tablets, allowing work to be scheduled, tracked, inspected and invoiced electronically.

The result is improved productivity, better visibility across the business and more time spent delivering value to customers.

Investing in Innovation

Although polishing remains a highly skilled manual craft, Ace Polishing Services continues to explore technology that complements the expertise of its workforce.

The business is currently investigating investment in specialist CNC polishing equipment to automate repetitive work for high-volume components.

Rather than replacing skilled employees, the technology will allow the team to focus on more complex, higher-value work while increasing production capacity.

With support from the Business Growth Hub, the company is exploring funding opportunities that could help bring this investment to life.

Alongside new technology, Ace Polishing Services is also investing in its future workforce through employment initiatives that create opportunities for young people to develop practical manufacturing skills.

Specialist Skills That Can’t Be Taught in a Classroom

Metal polishing is a highly specialised trade.

Unlike many engineering disciplines, there are no dedicated college courses or apprenticeship programmes for the craft. Every member of the Ace Polishing Services team develops their expertise through hands-on training within the business.

That experience is one of the company’s greatest strengths.

Many employees have been with the business for years, creating a close-knit team whose knowledge has been built over decades.

“Our biggest strength is our people. The skills they have simply can’t be learned overnight. Everything is taught in-house, and that’s what makes the quality of our work so consistent.”

This commitment to developing people ensures valuable specialist skills continue to be passed from one generation to the next.

Trusted Across Critical Industries

Ace Polishing Services works across a diverse range of sectors where quality, consistency and precision are essential.

In nuclear projects, every component must achieve a specified surface finish, measured to precise roughness (Ra) values using calibrated equipment. These finishes are critical to performance, safety and compliance.

The business regularly polishes everything from tiny precision components to vessels more than 15 metres long.

Its work has supported projects across:

  • Nuclear
  • Food manufacturing
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Oil and gas
  • Aerospace
  • Architectural metalwork

This diversity provides resilience while allowing the company to transfer knowledge and best practice between sectors.

Delivering Landmark Projects

Although much of its work remains confidential, Ace Polishing Services has contributed to numerous high-profile projects across the UK and overseas.

Among the most recognisable is the polished structural steelwork beneath the roof canopy at London Paddington Station, where mirror-finished beams were created to reflect natural light and produce the architect’s intended visual effect.

The company has also completed specialist polishing work at Wimbledon, prestigious London galleries and international projects including whisky distilleries in China, alongside work in Azerbaijan, Belgium and the United States.

Many projects require members of the team to work on-site alongside fabricators and installation contractors, ensuring finished components meet exact customer specifications before handover.

While few members of the public realise the expertise involved, millions of people interact with Ace Polishing Services’ workmanship every year.

Proudly Based in Rochdale

Having originally started in Rochdale before relocating and eventually returning, the company remains firmly committed to the borough.

Its recent move into larger premises has created significantly more production space, improved access for oversized components and provided lifting capacity through overhead cranes, allowing the business to secure work that would previously have been impossible to accommodate.

The location also places the company close to customers, suppliers and strategic transport links while remaining rooted in the community where it was established.

As Rochdale continues to strengthen its position as one of the UK’s fastest-growing advanced manufacturing locations, businesses such as Ace Polishing Services are helping to demonstrate the depth of expertise already established within the borough. Their success reflects the strength of Rochdale’s engineering ecosystem and the opportunities being created through major investment in innovation, skills and industrial growth.

 

Supporting the Next Generation of Manufacturing

The future for businesses like Ace Polishing Services is closely aligned with Rochdale’s long-term vision for advanced manufacturing.

Through Atom Valley, the nationally significant advanced manufacturing and technology innovation cluster spanning Rochdale, Bury and Oldham, the borough is creating new opportunities for manufacturers to innovate, collaborate and grow. Investment in research, skills, digital technologies and sustainable manufacturing will help strengthen local supply chains while attracting new businesses and high-value employment to the area.

A key part of that ambition is the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC), which will provide cutting-edge facilities for research, product development, innovation and industry collaboration. For specialist manufacturers, the SMMC represents an opportunity to access expertise, explore new manufacturing technologies and accelerate productivity and innovation.

For companies such as Ace Polishing Services, whose success is built on precision engineering, continuous improvement and investment in people, these developments reinforce Rochdale as an ideal location from which to grow. They also create opportunities to strengthen relationships across advanced manufacturing sectors including nuclear, aerospace, clean energy and high-value engineering.

Looking Ahead

With Fit For Nuclear accreditation now secured, investment in digital technology underway and further automation planned, Ace Polishing Services is well positioned for continued growth.

Its ambition is not simply to win more work, but to continue building capability, supporting UK supply chains and investing in the people and technology that will secure the future of the business.

For Managing Director Peter and the team, success remains grounded in the same principles that have shaped the business for more than two decades – quality, craftsmanship, continuous improvement and long-term relationships.

As Rochdale continues to establish itself as a nationally recognised destination for advanced manufacturing through initiatives such as Atom Valley and the SMMC, businesses like Ace Polishing Services are helping to shape that future today. Their expertise demonstrates that world-class manufacturing already exists within the borough, providing the specialist capabilities that underpin critical national industries while reinforcing Rochdale’s reputation as a place where advanced manufacturing businesses can innovate, invest and thrive.

The RDA is dedicated to supporting economic growth across the borough, working closely with businesses to connect them with the right support partners, funding opportunities, skills programmes, innovation advice and investment services to help them start, grow and thrive.

To find out how the RDA Business Team can support your business, contact info@investinrochdale.co.uk.