Saint-Gobain PAM UK has appointed NCM Auctions to manage the complete clearance and asset recovery of its historic Holwell Works foundry in Melton Mowbray. The Yorkshire-based auction and asset management specialists will oversee the decommissioning process and the sale of equipment from across the site.
Established in the 1870s, the Holwell foundry has been a cornerstone of Melton Mowbray’s industrial identity for over 150 years. Known for producing access covers and gully gratings for the road, water, and utility sectors, the site’s closure follows a strategic shift to transfer production to Saint-Gobain PAM’s facility in Blénod, France. This decision will halve the carbon emissions associated with PAM UK’s road ironwork production and support their customers’ net zero ambitions.
Under NCM’s leadership, the Holwell Works will undergo a comprehensive clearance programme. This includes careful decommissioning and the optimisation of asset value through an online auction and private treaty sales. The process will be conducted with full adherence to environmental and safety regulations, reflecting Saint-Gobain PAM’s focus on responsible site management.
The auction will feature a wide variety of machinery and equipment from the nine-acre site, including melting and moulding plants, finishing lines, workshops, and scrap recovery systems.
Items listed in the auction catalogue include induction furnaces, robotic welders, dip ovens, overhead magnet cranes, and manipulators. Additionally, industrial machinery such as lathes, milling machines, compressors, hoppers, and conveyors will also be available.
Saint-Gobain PAM’s sustainable approach prioritises repurposing and recycling equipment, rather than discarding it. By doing so, they aim to benefit the local community, businesses, and charities, while avoiding unnecessary landfill waste.
Amy Rutherford, Partnership Lead at NCM, remarked: “This contract award from Saint-Gobain PAM represents a significant milestone for NCM Auctions and reinforces our position as a trusted and leading partner for specialised industrial site clearances like the Holwell Works site.
“Saint-Gobain PAM’s commitment to sustainability aligns with our approach, where valuable resources are repurposed, recycled and reintegrated into the circular economy.
“Due to the size and scale of this site, the auction includes hundreds of assets, from specialist foundry and steelmaking lines to industrial machinery that will be suitable for a wide variety of manufacturing applications. We’ve already had a lot of interest from overseas buyers.”
The auction is live now, with bidding closing from 1pm on Thursday, 20 February. Private Treaty offers are also being accepted, and interested parties can contact NCM on 01302 898260 or email for more information.
View the online auction and register to bid here
