Precision Products (Cumberland) Ltd was formed in 1947 by Mr. Bill Ball who had followed the progress of some experimental work which Mr. Noel Shaw was doing with organic silicates. Mr. Shaw wanted to introduce his own process to produce precision castings using conventional pattern equipment and Mr. Ball realised the potential of such a process. 

The company progressed through the 1950’s making a wide variety of small precision castings for industries, such as – Machinery building and Coal and Power. 

In the late 1950’s and, by chance, Mr. Ball was introduced to Hope Letters who was one of the brothers producing golf clubs for the world famous John Letters & Co. Ltd. 

From this meeting PP(C) commenced golf club production as the first foundry in the world to cast them. 

They continued through the 1960’s making large quantities of golf heads for all the major manufacturers, except Wilson, who wanted too many. The maximum production in one month was 60,000 and the total workforce was 100. 

The original premises in Alston could not cope with the demand so it was decided to build a new foundry on the outskirts of the town which was completed in 1970. 

However, by the mid 1970’s the golf club industry suffered a severe downturn and the company had to find an alternative market. 

Pump components, especially impeller and diffusers, were ideally suited to the process due to their dimensional accuracy, surface finish, reduced machining allowances and relatively inexpensive pattern equipment. In addition they are able to use or utilise conventional existing pattern equipment. 

As well as pump components the company continues to produce a wide range of castings for all types of industries including machinery building, power generation, nuclear, waste water and chemical process. 

Because of the high cost of the block refractory moulds it was felt that a method to reduce this cost had to be found. The R & D department came up with a contoured hard back mould to which the Shaw facing could be applied – called Ecoshaw. 

This contoured mould did reduce the mould cost and, in addition, improved the casting quality and metallurgical structure which allowed changes of section to be achieved without a complicated runner system. A further plus was that the raw materials were environmentally friendly hence the name Ecoshaw. 

In September 2008, Precision Products was acquired by Bonds Ltd and the new company became known as Bonds Precision Castings Ltd. 

In February 2020, Bonds Precision Castings was rescued from administration by the Teescraft Engineering Group and retained the Bonds Precision Castings name.