About Us – Our History

Milton Keynes Pressings (MKP) was established as a family business in 1985, and after 30 years of growth now employs over 150 staff and services a wide variety of sectors. The Company’s progress has been built on supplying excellent customer service and solving engineering and manufacturing solutions, whilst remaining competitive in a global market place.

As the Company has grown, considerable investment has been made throughout the facility with the purchase of new presses, robotic plant and machine tools and the extension of the laser cutting facility. In order to allow flexibility, and ensure production remains as streamlined as possible with changing customer demands and schedules, the Company utilises a combination of a traditional Kanban manufacturing system with a more progressive MRP system.

The disciplines and accreditations required to be a first and second tier supplier into the automotive industry are employed throughout the organization for the benefit of all other sectors that MKP supply.

It has been vital to the development of the Company that the original engineering foundations have supported its growth. The roots of the Company can be traced back to 1974 when Ryeland Toolmakers (RT) was established as a press tool-making facility.

RT first operated from a small space in the Old Mill in Stony Stratford, sharing the building with other start up engineering businesses, before moving after nine months to a single story building of 1,000 sq. ft. close by. Two years later larger premises were required and a suitable building was found in Bletchley. In 1980 the Company had to move again because of space limitations and a factory of 5,000 sq. ft. was found. Ryeland now consisted of ten toolmakers and the Company was building itself a reputation for press tool-making expertise and starting to develop a large customer base, including many blue chip companies.

In the early eighties with two small try-out presses in the toolroom, an opportunity was presented to the Company to get involved in production. Three more presses were acquired and just by chance a small factory became available opposite. With the existing two presses a small production facility was established and production began. This part of the business was separated from Ryeland in 1985 and a new Company was incorporated and called Milton Keynes Pressings Limited (MKP). MKP started to expand quickly and new premises were sought and found on the Water Eaton Industrial Estate in Bletchley.

In 1989 MKP started to supply parts for the Vauxhall Frontera in Luton: this link with General Motors enabled MKP to quote for new business across the whole of GME global accounts.

Through the nineties expansion continued: Electrolux of Luton decided to close their in-house press-shop: MKP won the business and were able to acquire their presses at a modest price. By the late nineties, parts were being supplied to most GM plants around the world. Japanese manufacturing techniques were adopted with cellular manufacturing and Kanban systems becoming the accepted way to operate.

In 2001 MKP were awarded the Queens Award for Export: the highest award the Government can bestow on a British company.

In 2003 the assets of Cardale Engineering Limited were bought and moved to Milton Keynes. This purchase enabled MKP to gain immediate expertise in tube bending.

In 2004 the sheet metal facility of Maine Office Limited was purchased and moved to Milton Keynes.

In 2006 the assembly plant of Maine Office in Kings Langley was purchased. MKP had been a supplier to this company since the mid-eighties.

In 2010 the entire manufacturing facility for Maine Office was moved to Milton Keynes and established into existing factory space. The major challenge was moving, installing and refurbishing the powder coating plant which has had a major benefit to the whole Group.

In 2012 MKP was awarded the General Motors Supplier Quality Excellence Award. This means that MKP are in the top 5% of all GM suppliers in Europe and in the top 7% worldwide.

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