Huddersfield-based advanced manufacturing company Holdson has secured £1.5m to expand its patented electroform™ technology, with backing led by the £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).
The business, which employs 18 people at its production facility near Huddersfield, has developed electroform™, an electrochemical finishing process that refines the surfaces of metal parts — including cast and 3D-printed components — to remove imperfections and improve performance.
The funding round was led by NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance, managed by Praetura Ventures (soon to become PXN Group, subject to FCA approval). Additional backing came from Oval Investments and Singapore-based venture capital firm SANDS, which brings strategic links into Asian and international markets.
Aaron Holt, CEO of Holdson, said: “The additive and related industries have reached a point where the conversation has shifted from ‘how do we make this?’ to ‘how do we make it better?’. Customers want stronger, more efficient, more reliable components, produced in greater volumes and with ever more complex designs. electroform™ delivers those gains while staying competitive on cost, and that’s why we’re seeing such strong adoption from OEMs.”
The company, launched in 2023 out of a collaboration with Huddersfield engineering specialists Cummins Turbo Technologies, now counts customers across the UK, Europe, the US and Asia. It plans to use the fresh investment to scale production of its electroform™ machines, which are increasingly being adopted in industries such as aerospace, defence, automotive and nuclear fusion.
Laurence Tan, Investment Associate at Praetura Ventures, said: “The advanced manufacturing space is critical to a number of key industries, including the automotive, aerospace and defence sectors, where vital parts and components are growing more complex with each passing year. Holdson is an example of a thriving Northern company that’s making these innovations possible. The company has the talent and the technology to continue scaling globally, and we’re pleased to be backing the team on their journey with NPIF II funding to supercharge their growth.”
NPIF II covers the whole of the North of England, offering loans from £25k and equity investment of up to £5m to support small and medium-sized businesses.
