Latest news with #BallantineCastings
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Ballantine Castings: Over 40 jobs axed as one of Scotland's last foundries linked to Edinburgh Castle wound up
The foundry had been involved in projects for London's Big Ben clock and Edinburgh Castle. Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... More than 40 jobs have been lost as one of Scotland's last foundries has been wound up and placed in the hands of liquidators after 200 years in business. Ballantine Castings, in Links Road, Bo'ness, presented a petition to Falkirk Sheriff Court on July 25 so the firm could be wound up and an interim liquidator appointed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The court subsequently appointed Graeme Bain, of Glasgow-based accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael, as liquidator on July 28. Ballantine Castings in Bo'ness played a pivotal role in repairing London's Elizabeth Tower, the home of Big Ben (Picture: Lisa Ferguson, National World) Founded in the early 1820s, the iron foundry became formally established in 1856 and has been in continuous production ever since. The foundry has been owned and run by the Ballantine family for seven generations and has made some of the country's most iconic ironwork – including the famous replica cannons at Edinburgh Castle. Ballantine's website states: 'With a continual investment programme in place, a highly trained and skilled workforce and the adoption of new technologies, we can assure that we will be making high-quality, high integrity architectural, engineering and construction castings for many years to come.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Back in 2021 the foundry played a crucial role in restoring the home of London's world famous Big Ben clock. Workers used traditional methods of cast ironwork to create integral elements of the Elizabeth Tower, which was undergoing a conservation project at that time, and remade more than 400 cast iron tiles for the roof. The intricate decorative shields, which adorn the tower, were also remade in Bo'ness, including the brightly coloured thistle shield that represents Scotland. At the time, Gavin Ballantine, Ballantine Castings director, said: 'Over the years we've been fortunate enough to work on many prestigious projects. however, the works undertaken on the Elizabeth Tower will last long in the memory. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "It's been an honour to play our part in the restoration of such a complex, iconic national structure.' A few years before it helped restore Big Ben's home, Ballantine Castings was commissioned to cast steel totem poles to illustrate the history of Forth Valley. Selected by the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative (IFLI) to create 11 'markers', the firm's work now helps visitors find unique heritage sites around the Inner Forth estuary. The long-established business blamed an increase in energy costs for its demise. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Johnston Carmichael spokesperson said: 'The business, which specialised in supplying the architectural, engineering and construction and drainage sectors, had been increasingly reliant on support from its parent company amid increasing energy costs. "It ceased trading shortly prior to Graeme's appointment. with the unfortunate loss of 44 jobs. 'The provisional liquidator has appointed Hilco Valuation Services to assist in dealing with the disposal of the company's assets. "The company's trading site in Bo'ness will also be subject to a marketing and disposal process in due course.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Graeme Bain added: 'Ballantine Castings is a historic Scottish business with a long track record of supplying metalwork services to a range of large-scale projects across the UK and overseas. 'Our immediate priority is to assist employees, who have been impacted by the business ceasing to trade, in making claims for sums due to them.
The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
All jobs lost as 200-year-old Scottish foundry enters liquidation
Ballantine Castings, based in Bo'ness, submitted a petition to Falkirk Sherriff Court in late July so a liquidator could be appointed. The court went on to appoint Glasgow-based accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael to manage the liquidation. The 200-year-old firm blamed an increase in energy costs for the closure. Owned and run by the Ballantine family since the early 1820s, the iron foundry, considered to be one of Scotland's last remining, was formally established in 1856. READ MORE: Scotch whisky distillery releases 12,300 bottles of single-malt from rare wine casks Alongside the famous replica cannons at Edinburgh Castle, the firm has also played a major role in the restoration of London's Big Ben clock in 2021. The team used traditional methods of cast ironwork and create integral elements of the Elizabeth Tower, and remade more than 400 cast iron tiles for the roof.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Scots firm plunges into liquidation after 200 years in business
The company has been operational since the 1820s, but the iron foundry was established in 1856 COMPANY COLLAPSED Scots firm plunges into liquidation after 200 years in business Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOTTISH ironworks has plunged into liquidation after 200 years in business. Ballantine Castings, located in Bo'ness, is one of the last iron foundries in the country. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Ballatine Castings had one of the last foundries in the country (STOCK IMAGE) Credit: Getty The company has been operational since the 1820s, but the iron foundry was established in 1856. On July 25, Ballatine Castings presented a petition to Falkirk Sheriff Court for the company to close up and a liquidator to be appointed, the Falkirk Herald reports. Three days later, the court then appointed Graeme Bain of Glasgow-based accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael as liquidator. Liquidation is a legal process where a company's assets are sold to pay off its debts. It also ultimately leads to the company's closure and dissolution. The process essentially consists of winding up a company's affairs. The foundry has been owned by the Ballatine family for seven generations. And they made some of the country's most iconic ironwork, including the replica cannons at Edinburgh Castle. Back in 2014, the ironworks was revived by a new firm set up by Gavin Ballantine after it shut down. It is unknown how many employees have been affected. Major Scottish Construction Firm Faces Liquidation in Dalgety Bay Over the past year, a number of construction firms have collapsed. Pittsburgh Fife Limited, based in the coastal town of Dalgety Bay, had a liquidator appointed last month. In April, dozens of workers have lost their jobs after a long-established Scottish painting and decorating firm went bust. All 32 staff members at the Lanarkshire-based business were made redundant after the company entered administration. And in May, a Scottish firm has plunged into administration after 41 years with over 20 jobs lost. Hospital Pipeline Installations Limited (HPI) in Paisley plunged into administration due to a 'marked downturn' in trade, rising operating costs and low-margin contracts.
