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About us

A global leader in weld automation, positioning and precision engineering solutions
Industries we serve

Products

RENT/HIRE

PROJECT WORK

Welding automation experts

Key Plant is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of welding automation, handling & positioning equipment, robotic welding cells and bespoke turnkey solutions.

Built to last. Made to perform.

Since our inception in 1956, Key Plant has built a catalogue of innovative and accomplished products, along with exclusive engineering solutions for customers all over the world. We cover a wide and diverse sector range; that include industries such as; the shipbuilding, automotive, power generation and defence sectors.

With over 60 years of experience; supplying, developing and revising our equipment from the sales of new and refurbished equipment, building our large Key Plant rental department, through to extensive automated turnkey installations. We have developed an acclaimed knowledge and skill base that is second to none in the industry.

We have offices and manufacturing facilities in the UK and North America, as well as distributors throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Everything you need, direct from the manufacturer

Located in Leek, Staffordshire, UK – our head office and manufacturing facility boasts a 6acre+ site with over 100,000sq ft of in-house factory capabilities.

We purchased the site in 2001 from F. Bode & Son who had ceased trading, included in the sale; was the complete stock of the stores, every jig and fixture, machines tools and fabrication equipment.

Key Plant is the only major UK manufacturer of weld automation and positioning equipment.

We have full control of production from plate delivery, through to site installation and commissioning. Giving Key Plant the facility, along with its standard equipment, to design and manufacture highly sophisticated heavy engineering machinery – all in house, under one roof.

Key Plant Automation - UK Head Office & Manufacturing Facility
Key Plant research and development weld centre
Key Plant weld research

Innovation

Research & development weld centre.

Our Key Plant head office houses our esteemed research and development weld centre where we design and test specialist machines.

Improving technologies to provide pioneering solutions.

We provide solutions for specific problems, such as; large capacity anti-drift rotators, cladding solutions and deep groove, narrow gap welding.

The R&D centre also extends the possibility for customers, to perform test and weld trials on equipment prior to installation at their facility/location. Operators can also be involved with trials and trained in the use of the equipment.

Committed to excellence

Our drive, passion and commitment has awarded Key Plant the UL/CSA accreditation for Factory Automation Equipment. We are the first and only company in the world to have achieved the UL Certificate, allowing us to deliver to highly specific markets.

Leading industry experts

Key Plant continually invests in new plant equipment, the latest CNC machinery and the modernising of its manufacturing process, to optimise our efficiency and productivity. Other focuses are made in acquiring key personnel; developing their knowledge, expertise, and utilising this asset to its full potential for the benefit of our customers.

Further investments in the latest design and HMI technologies, have improved the capabilities of Key Plant, to design challenging complex machinery to meet the rigorous demands of our expanding customer base.

Key Plant usa

North America’s fastest growing weld automation sales, rental and integration company

With our fast-growing USA customer portfolio – In 2020, Key Plant opened a 60,000sq ft manufacturing and assembly facility in Houston, Texas.

Column and boom welding manipulators

Our North America location, optimises our ability to fulfil the needs of our US customers and their welding automation requirements, even easier.

Fully equipped and staffed by some of America’s leading experts in the industry – Our North America hub provides sales, rental and lease, as well as customisable turnkey packages; of our welding automation, handling and positioning equipment, and our pipe fabrication product range.

Key Plant USA demo area and weld training school

A demo showroom and training school is also located at the facility.

Who we serve

Key Plant supply welding automation, handling & positioning equipment, robotic welding cells and turnkey installations to a wide and diverse range of industries and sectors.

PRESSURE VESSELS AND PIPELINE MANUFACTURERS

GAS AND MINING

GENERAL FABRICATION AND STRUCTURAL STEEL SUPPLIERS

TRANSPORTATON

INCLUDING EARTH MOVERS AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

SHIPBUILDING

OFFSHORE, OIL AND CLADDING INSTALLATIONS

AUTOMOTIVE

POWER GENERATION

INCLUDING WIND, NUCLEAR, WATER AND COAL ENERGY

AEROSPACE

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

THEME PARKS AND ENTERTAINMENT

DEFENCE AND AID

PRESSURE VESSELS AND PIPELINE MANUFACTURERS

GAS AND MINING

GENERAL FABRICATION AND STRUCTURAL STEEL SUPPLIERS

TRANSPORTATON

INCLUDING EARTH MOVERS AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

SHIPBUILDING

OFFSHORE, OIL AND CLADDING INSTALLATIONS

AUTOMOTIVE

POWER GENERATION

INCLUDING WIND, NUCLEAR, WATER AND COAL ENERGY

AEROSPACE

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

THEME PARKS AND ENTERTAINMENT

DEFENCE AND AID

Process of excellence

All manufacturing in house, under one roof.

Durable, strong, efficient and safe. We look beyond the finish line, making sure that all our equipment is designed and manufactured to the highest quality.

We design special purpose machines

1. Design stage

We design special purpose machines

2. Steel Cutting

We design special purpose machines

3. Fabrication

We design special purpose machines

4. Welding

We design special purpose machines

5. Machining

We design special purpose machines

6. Steel Preparation

We design special purpose machines

7. Painting

We design special purpose machines

8. Assembly

We design special purpose machines

9. Electrics

We design special purpose machines

10. Testing

We design special purpose machines

11. On-Site Customer Commissioning

We design special purpose machines

12. Another Happy Customer

We design special purpose machines

1. Design stage

We design special purpose machines

2. Steel Cutting

We design special purpose machines

3. Fabrication

We design special purpose machines

4. Welding

We design special purpose machines

5. Machining

We design special purpose machines

6. Steel Preparation

We design special purpose machines

7. Painting

We design special purpose machines

8. Assembly

We design special purpose machines

9. Electrics

We design special purpose machines

10. Testing

We design special purpose machines

11. On-Site Customer Commissioning

We design special purpose machines

12. Another Happy Customer

short and long term weld automation and positioner equipment entals

leadership

Forward thinking experts

Key Plant draws on unrivalled industry knowledge and expertise, to help our customers compete at the highest level.