Manufacturing Technology

In 2015 UK-based Mayes & Warwick Ltd, a manufacturer of thread rolling dies in a wide variety of thread profiles, celebrates its centenary year.

The company was founded by William Mayes, who – whilst working for a screw making company that imported thread rolling dies from the USA – had the idea to create British-made thread rolling dies himself. After taking a loan from his boss, and also selling his beloved motor bike, he had gathered enough funds for a lathe and other basic tools. He enlisted the help of his cousin, Mr Warwick, to make the master cutting hobs and together, they set up their fledgling business. Continuing their day jobs, they worked late into the night, to produce thread rolling dies, which Mr Mayes then sold back to his boss, to repay the loan.

In 1915, Mayes & Warwick was officially established in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, and went into full-time production of thread rolling dies. The company gradually expanded until the early 1960s, when it was necessary to move premises due to the company reaching full capacity and also needing to accommodate new machinery.

Mayes & Warwick moved into new premises in Burntwood, Staffordshire, which is still its headquarters today. The company has continued to grow, and has added new workshops to accommodate modern CNC machines and CAD CAM design and programming technology.

Now under the directorship of William Mayes’ grandson – Peter Lawrence – the company continues to manufacture all types of flat thread rolling dies. The company’s product portfolio includes dies for any type of screw be it standard, MAThread®, Taptite®, Ejot Delta®, chipboard, lock bolts, as well as a wide range of specials. Products can be made to order or supplied from stock.