This year marks an incredible milestone for MTI Welding Technologies in the UK — our 20th anniversary. Since 2005, we’ve been proud to serve customers across Europe and beyond with innovative friction welding solutions. What began as British Federal, a company with deep expertise in resistance welding technologies, evolved into MTI Welding Technologies after becoming part of the Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) group family. Today, we are a trusted partner for some of the world’s leading manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, energy, and more.
Our Journey
Over the past two decades, MTI Welding Technologies has established itself as the European hub for MTI, a global leader in friction welding. From the very beginning, our focus has been on delivering machines and services that meet the most demanding safety and performance standards. With each project, we’ve built stronger relationships with customers who rely on our expertise to solve manufacturing challenges.
Some key highlights from our journey include:
- 1997: British Federal was granted Friction Welding Licensing from MTI
- 2005: MTI Welding Technologies, establishing our European presence of Sales, Contract Welding and Service.
- 2009: Delivery of our first UK-built rotary friction welding machine.
- 2012: Expansion of our contract welding and machine build divisions
- 2020: Investment in new metallurgical inspection capabilities
- 2024: MTI Welding becomes the global center of excellence for Rotary Friction and Friction Stir Welding
- 2025: Celebrating two decades of innovation, partnerships, and customer success stories.
Building Trust Through Innovation
Our growth has been fueled by a commitment to solving customers’ toughest problems with precision, quality, and reliability. From aerospace innovations to advancing automotive including electrification, MTI Welding Technologies has played a key role in shaping safer, stronger, and more efficient products. Along the way, our service teams have ensured that customer machines stay running at peak performance, minimising downtime and maximising productivity.
“When I think back to those early days, it’s incredible to see how far the UK operation has come. We started as a small team with a big ambition, and over the years we’ve built lasting relationships with customers who trust us with their most critical projects. The progress we’ve made is a credit to the people here and the customers who have supported us along the way.” — Richard Jones, Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Looking Ahead
While our first 20 years have been defined by growth and partnership, the next chapter is about shaping the future of manufacturing. We are excited to continue expanding our footprint in:
- Electrification: Providing advanced welding solutions through our new strategic partnership with STIRTEC and its future-forward Friction Stir Welding technology for EV batteries, motors, and charging infrastructure.
- Sustainable Manufacturing: Supporting industries in achieving carbon reduction goals with energy-efficient joining technologies.
- Digital Transformation: Leveraging data, automation, and advanced controls to optimise processes and extend machine lifecycles.
- Global Collaboration: Working even more closely with MTI teams in the US and India to share expertise and bring best-in-class solutions to customers worldwide.
A Thank You to Our Customers and Team
None of this would be possible without our incredible customers and our passionate team in the UK. To our customers, thank you for trusting us to join your most critical components. To our employees, thank you for your dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence.
As we celebrate this 20-year milestone, we look forward to the next 20 — building on our legacy of innovation, partnership, and impact. Here’s to continuing to forge the future of manufacturing together.