Get started

UK’s only copper alloy-maker Thomas Bolton enters administration after cash crunch

Thomas Bolton, the UK’s only copper alloy maker, has been placed in administration in preparation for sale as a going concern.

March 26, 2014
By Generic people page
Base metals Copper

Thomas Bolton, the UK’s only copper alloy maker, has been placed in administration in preparation for sale as a going concern.

The Stoke on Trent-based company has been trading for over 200 years and is a leading supplier of copper products including copper bars, rods, and sections.

As a result of unresolved “short term cash flow difficulties”, the company was placed in administration in preparation for a potential sale on Monday March 24, the administrator Zolfo Cooper said.

“We believe the company is an attractive proposition to a range of potential buyers given its expertise and excellent product range. We welcome expressions of interest from third parties to acquire the business as a going concern,” Graham Wild, one of the joint administrators and a partner at Zolfo Cooper, said on Wednesday March 26.

Mark Burton 
mburton@metalbulletin.com
Twitter: @mburtonmb

What to read next
Delayed publication of Shanghai nickel full plate premiums: pricing notice
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments of the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, and the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, cif Shanghai for Tuesday May 26 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The following prices were affected:MB-NI-0143 Nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, […]
May 27, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Copper coils up close
Hudbay, Capstone and Ero post strong Q1 results as lower grades weigh on copper concentrate output
Copper producers, including Atlas Mining, reported higher earnings in the first quarter of 2026 on the back of elevated copper prices, while concentrate output declined at several operations in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines due to lower ore grades and disruptions, according to company results reviewed by Fastmarkets.
May 26, 2026
 · 
By Julienne Raboca
Fastmarkets amends publication times, holiday pricing schedule for Asian base metals assessments: pricing notice
The amendment follows the decision made on May 14, after a consultation period for the proposed changes which took place between April 3 and May 11. The changes were first proposed in a pricing note published on April 3.  The purpose of the changes is to align the publication times to the activity in the […]
May 21, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Proposal to amend frequency of cif Japan and Korea nickel sulfate assessments: pricing notice
The proposal follows Fastmarkets’ observations that the commodity sees inactive spot liquidity and low volatility in prices. The proposed new specifications for the prices are as follows, with the amendments in italics: MB-NI-0246 Nickel sulfate, cif Japan and Korea, $/tonneQuality: Accepted by buyer for use in battery applications with chemical composition: Ni content, base 22.3% […]
May 20, 2026
 · 
By Sybil Pan
Proposal to amend minimum tonnage specification for aluminium P1020A (MJP) spot Premium, cif Japan: pricing notice
Based on preliminary market feedback, market participants noted that smaller-sized spot market transactions may be skewed and not reflective of the wider market. The aluminium P1020A(MJP), cif Japan, assessment specification which has a minimum tonnage of 100 tonnes will be amended to 500 tonnes after the proposed change. The proposed new specifications are as follows, […]
May 18, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Fastmarkets decides to amend publication times, holiday pricing schedule for Asian base metals assessments: pricing notice
Fastmarkets consulted the market on the proposed change between April 3 and May 11, 2026. Some feedback was received regarding the publication times of nickel pig iron and laterite ore prices. Fastmarkets will adjust the initially proposed publication times accordingly and proceed with the changes. This decision was first proposed in a methodology note published […]
May 14, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team