Bronzecraft Ltd & Hannam Polishing Services Ltd: Complete Metal Craft, Foundry & Finishing Solutions — Attleborough, South Norfolk
The reputation of Bronzecraft Ltd and Hannam Polishing Services Ltd has been built over decades through exceptional craftsmanship, technical expertise and meticulous attention to detail. Their work is trusted by leading broadcasters, internationally renowned museums, award-winning artists, prestigious institutions and organisations responsible for preserving Britain’s cultural and engineering heritage.
Among their distinguished work
- Producers of the BBC documentary series Human (2025)
- Three Turner Prize winners
- Michael Dean, Turner Prize runner-up (2016)
- Aviva Headquarters
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Sainsbury Centre, Norwich
- Frieze Art Fair, London and New York
- Norwich Castle Museum
- Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
- St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds
- Midsummer House Restaurant, Cambridge
- Lloyd’s Building, London
- Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust
- Lotus Cars
- Classic Team Lotus
- Lola Cars
Whether conserving historic bronze, producing bespoke architectural metalwork, polishing contemporary sculpture or supplying authentic bronze artefacts for educational television, Bronzecraft Ltd and Hannam Polishing Services Ltd are recognised for delivering the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. Their expertise spans museum conservation, public art, heritage restoration, architectural bronze, fine art fabrication and specialist finishing, earning the confidence of clients whose projects demand precision, authenticity and excellence.
From iconic public buildings and world-class museums to internationally recognised artists and major television productions, every commission reflects a commitment to preserving traditional skills while embracing modern techniques. This impressive client portfolio demonstrates why Bronzecraft Ltd and Hannam Polishing Services Ltd continue to be among the UK’s leading specialists in bronze casting, bronze restoration, architectural metalwork, sculpture conservation and high-quality metal finishing.
Bronzecraft Ltd and Hannam Polishing Services Ltd operate side‑by‑side in Attleborough, South Norfolk — forming one of East Anglia’s most complete metalworking hubs. Between them: Class 2B art foundry, lost‑wax ceramic‑shell casting, 3D scanning & printing, TIG welding, sculptural fabrication, English wheel forming, full blasting range, industrial engraving, plus DP1, mirror, bright, satin, antique‑restoration, motorsport non‑safety‑component & MOD‑standard polishing, and chrome plating for classic cars & motorcycles. Sculpture, heritage, automotive, motorsport and engineering.
⚡ Quick Facts / Sidebar
- 📍 Location: Attleborough, South Norfolk — both businesses adjacent / next‑door
- 🤝 Leadership: Timothy Hannam – Hannam Polishing Services Ltd; alongside Bronzecraft Ltd foundry team
⚙️ Combined Services Overview
- Bronzecraft Ltd: Class 2B Heavy Industrial art & non‑ferrous foundry • Lost‑wax ceramic‑shell investment casting
- Digital capability: 3D scanning, 3D printing, CAD refinement
- Fabrication & forming: TIG welding • Sculptural fabrication • English wheel work
- Surface preparation: Vapor blasting • Shot blasting • Aluminium‑oxide blasting
- Hannam Polishing Services Ltd: Full finishing & plating
- Mirror / Bright / Satin / DP1 specification polishing
- Chrome plating — classic cars & classic motorcycles
- Antique & heritage restoration finishing
- Polishing for non‑safety‑critical motor racing components
- MOD‑standard metal polishing
- Vibration media polishing • Industrial engraving
Introduction: Attleborough’s Unique Side‑by‑Side Metal Hub
Located next‑door to each other in Attleborough, South Norfolk, Bronzecraft Ltd and Hannam Polishing Services Ltd — under the direction of Timothy Hannam — deliver a fully joined‑up workflow rarely found anywhere else in the UK. Because both businesses sit within the same Attleborough industrial site, work moves seamlessly between foundry, pattern shop, fabrication bay, blasting booths and finishing shop — no cross‑county transport, no handling damage, no broken communication between stages.
Together they cover every stage from concept to final hand‑finished or plated component:
- 3D scanning and digital modelling
- 3D printed or hand‑formed patterns
- Lost‑wax ceramic‑shell investment casting
- TIG welding and sculptural fabrication
- Traditional English‑wheel panel forming
- Three controlled blasting methods — vapor, shot and aluminium‑oxide
- Industrial engraving
- Precision finishing — mirror, bright, satin, DP1, heritage‑matched, motorsport‑grade and MOD‑standard
- Chrome plating for classic cars and motorcycles
Bronzecraft Ltd operates formally as Class 2B Heavy Industrial — the correct planning and environmental classification for foundry‑scale and Hannam Polishing Services works within the same robust, compliant infrastructure. This Attleborough hub serves artists, heritage organisations, classic vehicle specialists, motorsport builders and engineering clients across Norfolk, Cambridge and the wider East Anglia region.
1. About the Partnership: Bronzecraft Ltd × Hannam Polishing Services Ltd
Bronzecraft Ltd has built its reputation over many years as a specialist art and non‑ferrous Art foundry. Projects include fine‑art sculpture, public art commissions across East Anglia, works from the Ros Newman legacy, Jimmy sculpture, and heritage‑accurate castings including Jaguar automotive heritage parts. Class 2B status means the site is purpose‑built: heavy‑load floors,
Right next door: Hannam Polishing Services Ltd, led by Timothy Hannam, brings deep specialism exclusively in metal preparation, forming and precision finishing. The proximity in Attleborough is the key advantage: casting quality is checked against intended finish before sprues are removed; fabrication is aligned to fit cast sections perfectly; and every blast or polish stage is tuned to the material and final use.
2. Foundry Core: Lost‑Wax Ceramic‑Shell Investment Casting
At Bronzecraft Ltd in Attleborough, lost‑wax casting using ceramic‑shell moulds is the gold‑standard process — chosen because it reproduces detail, dimension and surface definition better than any alternative.
Step‑by‑step process:
- Pattern creation: either hand‑sculpted wax or produced directly from 3D scanned / CAD / 3D printed data
- Assembly: patterns attached to wax runners and sprue systems
- Shell building: repeated dipping in fine ceramic slurry followed by refractory grain layers until a thick, rigid, heat‑resistant shell is formed
- Dewax: steam or flash‑out removes all wax — hence “lost‑wax”
- Shell firing: high‑temperature cure strengthens the shell and eliminates residual binders or organic material
- Pouring: controlled‑temperature molten bronze, brass, aluminium or specialist alloys
- Break‑out: shell removed mechanically / chemically; sprues and gates cut away
Ceramic‑shell benefits:
- Captures micro‑level detail — essential for sculpture, heritage and intricate engineering
- Produces smoother “as‑cast” surfaces — reduces grinding and finishing work
- Consistent wall‑thickness and structural integrity
- Scales well — from small plaques to large public‑art scale
3. Digital Integration: 3D Scanning, 3D Printing & CAD Modelling
Together the Attleborough businesses bridge traditional craft and modern precision.
3D Scanning
Captures physical originals, artefacts, worn parts or artist‑made models into accurate digital meshes — ideal for replication, restoration, scaling, documentation or modification without distortion.
CAD Refinement
Clean‑up, dimensioning, structural or aesthetic adjustments, tool‑path preparation and pattern optimisation — perfect for complex geometry or repeatability.
3D Printing
Direct production of accurate patterns ready for ceramic‑shell casting at Bronzecraft Ltd. Faster, consistent and reliable — works seamlessly into the lost‑wax workflow.
Result: “Idea → Digital → Pattern → Cast → Finish” — all within Attleborough, making this hub highly attractive to design‑led clients from Cambridge tech and design sectors as well as traditional craft‑based artists.
4. Fabrication & Forming: TIG Welding, Sculptural Fabrication & English Wheel Work
TIG Welding
Precision, low‑spatter, clean‑bead control — suitable for bronze, brass, aluminium, stainless steel and mild steel. Used widely:
- Joining cast sections seamlessly
- Adding frames, supports or structural elements
- Complex sculptural assembly
- High‑integrity heritage and engineering components
English Wheel Work
Traditional master‑craft technique for forming compound curves without heat distortion or stamping marks. Produces smooth, flowing, distortion‑free panels and shells — essential for:
- Classic automotive heritage — e.g. Jaguar‑style body sections
- Organic sculptural forms
- One‑off architectural shapes
Sculptural Fabrication
Combining cutting, rolling, folding, forming and welding — often blending Bronzecraft castings and Hannam fabricated sections into unified artworks. Adjacent location means constant cross‑checking — alignment and quality never slip between departments.
5. Surface Preparation: Three Controlled Blasting Technologies
Vapor Blasting
Water + fine‑grade abrasive mix at controlled pressure — gentle, low‑dust, detail‑safe. Removes oxides, casting skin, sand marks and old coatings without rounding fine edges or texture. Best for sculpture, heritage restoration and intricate parts.
Shot Blasting
Controlled stream of metallic or mineral shot — aggressive but uniform. Used for:
- Heavy descaling and mill‑scale removal
- Creating consistent matte / satin base texture
- Keying before welding, coating or heavy polishing
Aluminium‑Oxide Blasting
Sharp, hard, consistent mineral abrasive — removes stubborn ceramic‑shell residue, deep oxidation or heavy scale. Creates excellent mechanical key ideal before fine polishing, plating or patination.
All blasting is carried out in Attleborough facilities fitted with modern extraction and containment — compliant with HSE and environmental requirements.
6. Precision Finishing — Hannam Polishing Services Ltd: Full Range in Attleborough
Standard & Controlled Polish Grades
- Mirror Polish — multi‑stage finest‑grit + compound sequence to flawless, defect‑free specular reflectivity
- Bright Polish — brilliant, high‑lustre, durable high‑shine finish
- Satin Polish — uniform soft sheen / non‑glare texture
- DP1 Specification Polishing — documented, consistent surface roughness and texture; widely recognised for classic and heritage automotive standards
Classic Vehicle Specialisms
- Chrome Plating — Classic Cars & Classic Motorcycles
- Antique & Heritage Restoration Finishing
Motorsport Finishing — Non‑Safety‑Critical Components
Specialised polishing and smoothing for race‑use parts excluding structural or safety‑critical items: engine covers, manifolds, end‑fittings, ductwork, trim and airflow‑optimised casings. Polishing improves flow, reduces drag and aids heat transfer — delivered to mirror, bright, satin or DP1‑level consistency. Clear distinction: only applied to non‑safety‑classified components.
High‑Spec & Mass‑Finishing Options
- MOD‑Standard Metal Polishing — suitable for defence, marine, aerospace and high‑performance engineering
- Vibration Media Polishing — safe, consistent mass‑finishing / edge‑breaking for complex or repeated geometries
- Industrial Engraving — permanent, precise marking: logos, part‑numbers, dates, specifications — integrated into workflow
7. Why Class 2B Heavy‑Industrial Classification Matters
Bronzecraft Ltd Attleborough is formally Class 2B Heavy Industrial — and Hannam Polishing operates within the same site capability. Classification is defined by process — not end‑product. Even art and heritage work involves high‑temperature furnaces, heavy plant, blasting and extraction — activities that require robust infrastructure:
- ✔️ Heavy‑load floors and foundations
- ✔️ Purpose‑built ventilation, dust/fume and refractory containment
- ✔️ Fire safety zoning and structural design
- ✔️ Compliance with Building Regulations, Environmental Permitting Regulations
Class 2B status is not just a label — it guarantees the facility is built for the job safely and legally.
8. Markets Served — Attleborough / South Norfolk Hub
- Fine Art & Public Sculpture — artists, councils, trusts; including Ros Newman‑legacy and civic projects
- Heritage & Conservation — accurate casting, non‑damaging prep, period‑matched finishing
- Classic Automotive Heritage — Jaguar and similar: English‑wheel panels, casting, DP1 polish, chrome plating
- Classic Motorcycle Restoration — complete metal cycle from repair/fabrication to plate and finish
- Motorsport — Non‑Safety Components — airflow & cosmetic polish
- Engineering, Marine & Defence — MOD‑spec polish, controlled quality
- Architectural, Plaques & Signage — cast, engraved and finished bronze/metals
- Design & Tech Sectors — seamless 3D → foundry → finish
Attleborough’s location — close to A11 / A47 — is easily accessed from Norwich, Wymondham, Thetford, Cambridge and across East Anglia.
Conclusion: Attleborough’s One‑Site Advantage
Bronzecraft Ltd and Hannam Polishing Services Ltd — side‑by‑side in Attleborough, South Norfolk — represent one of East Anglia’s most complete metalworking centres.
From 3D scanning / printing through lost‑wax ceramic‑shell casting, TIG welding, English‑wheel forming, vapor / shot / aluminium‑oxide blasting, industrial engraving, and mirror / bright / satin / DP1 / heritage / motorsport / MOD‑standard polishing, plus chrome plating for classic cars and motorcycles, every stage is controlled on‑site.
Class 2B heavy‑industrial infrastructure, modern digital tools and deep traditional craft combine for faster lead‑times, fewer interfaces, better quality control and less risk — whether you are commissioning sculpture, restoring heritage vehicles, preparing race‑components or engineering precision parts.
For artists, designers, restorers, motorsport builders and engineers across Norfolk, Cambridge and East Anglia — Attleborough is where the complete metal cycle happens.