Case Study 2: Supporting Meltog through a Period of Growth

Case Study 2: Supporting Meltog Ltd Through a Period of Growth

Specialist Engineering Recruitment for a UK Machinery Manufacturer

Client: Meltog Ltd https://www.meltog.com/ 

Sector: Special Purpose Machinery Manufacturing

The Challenge

Meltog Ltd is a well-established UK manufacturer of manufacturers metal packaging machinery, industrial shredders and filter tube machinery.

Over the past two years, Meltog has experienced a period of significant business growth, driven by increased project demand and an expanding order book. Alongside this growth, the business also identified the need to upskill and strengthen key engineering functions to support both current production requirements and long-term scalability.

Like many machinery manufacturers, Meltog faced a number of recruitment challenges, including:

• A tight engineering labour market
• Shortages of experienced mechanical and electrical fitters
• Limited availability of commercially aware engineering buyers
• The need to recruit engineers with hands-on, machinery-led experience
• Competition for candidates from other manufacturers and OEMs

Meltog required a recruitment partner who understood special purpose machinery environments, project-driven engineering, and the practical realities of shopfloor and technical roles.

The SimWest Approach

SimWest Engineering Recruitment partnered closely with Meltog to deliver a long-term, strategic recruitment solution, rather than a series of one-off placements.

As a specialist engineering recruitment agency focused on manufacturing and machinery businesses, SimWest took the time to understand:

• Meltog’s machinery, build processes and project lifecycle
• The technical requirements of each role
• Departmental skill gaps and future growth plans
• The cultural and practical expectations of Meltog’s engineering teams

Given the shortage of active candidates in the market, SimWest adopted a proactive, headhunting-led approach, engaging experienced engineers who were not actively applying for roles but had relevant machinery and manufacturing experience.

Engineering Roles Recruited

Over the past two years, SimWest has successfully supported Meltog with the recruitment of multiple engineering positions across several departments, including:

• Mechanical Fitters
• Electrical Fitters
• Engineering Buyers
• Application Engineers
• Production Engineers

Each role required a tailored recruitment strategy, with particular focus on practical experience, reliability and the ability to contribute quickly within a fast-paced machinery manufacturing environment.

Overcoming Skills Shortages

Many of the roles recruited for Meltog sat within candidate-short markets, particularly higher skilled mechanical fitters and electrical fitters.

To overcome this, SimWest:

• Used targeted, discreet outreach rather than relying on job boards
• Engaged engineers already working within machinery and OEM environments
• Clearly communicated Meltog’s growth plans and long-term opportunities
• Managed candidate expectations honestly to improve acceptance and retention

This approach allowed Meltog to access talent that would not have been reached through traditional advertising alone.

The Results

Through its partnership with SimWest Engineering Recruitment, Meltog has been able to:

• Successfully scale engineering teams during a period of sustained growth
• Strengthen shopfloor build capability with skilled mechanical and electrical fitters
• Improve procurement and commercial support through experienced engineering buyers
• Add technical depth through application and production engineering hires
• Reduce hiring risk in a highly competitive engineering labour market

By focusing on quality, fit and long-term value, SimWest helped Meltog build engineering capability aligned to both immediate production demands and future business objectives.

What Meltog say's about working with SimWest:

TBC

Supporting Machinery Manufacturers Across the UK

SimWest Engineering Recruitment works with machinery manufacturers across the UK, supporting recruitment across design, build, production, procurement and engineering leadership roles.

If your business is experiencing growth, skills shortages or challenges recruiting experienced engineers, SimWest offers a specialist, confidential recruitment service built around manufacturing and machinery environments.

Contact SimWest Engineering Recruitment to discuss how we can support your engineering recruitment needs.