Growth at 4B Engineering and 4B Fabrications leads to relocation in Sunderland

Two friends and now business partners have returned to the same Sunderland site where they served their time as engineering apprentices to set up a joint base for their sister companies as they both continue to expand.

4B Fabrications, which started in 2012 initially to support 4B Engineering, relocated to Pennywell Industrial Estate when it outgrew its premises in Washington. Now 4B Engineering has taken the other three units in the same block to expand.

Gary King runs 4B Fabrications and 4B Engineering’s managing director Steve Forbister is also a director of the fabrications business.

Gary said: “Both myself and Steve served time for Alto Engineering which was based in these units. Now we’ve taken the whole block of units here, and it’s brought them back to life which is great news for the area, and makes sound business sense for 4B.”

4B Fabrications is building its customer base across the North East quickly with clients in deep sea operations, automotive and food industries, and the firm is looking to expand its staff numbers in line with the growth of its customer base.

4B Engineering, which has a staff of 12, has now been in business for nine years. In addition to working with standard engineering materials, it works with exotic metals and plastics and supplies services for the food manufacturing sector and automotive industries.

“The reason we set up the fabrication business was because the engineering side was subcontracting fabrication work,” said Gary. “Steve approached me and asked if I was interested in setting up a fabrication business and keeping the name 4B, so it’s a known name for customers. It’s worked well, and we’re now growing our own customer base as well.”

Around 95% of 4B Fabrications’ clients are in the Sunderland-Washington area. Gary considers Pennywell an ideal base for the two businesses because of Sunderland’s renowned manufacturing heritage.

4B Fabrications was supported with its expansion and relocation to Pennywell by Sunderland City Council.

“We got in touch when we were exploring options for growth,” said Gary. “It was very straightforward working with the City Council and they were very helpful.”

Councillor Harry Trueman, deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “The success of the two 4Bs and the way they have worked together to bring more work into the city’s economy should be applauded.

“We’re delighted to see the two firms based together in Sunderland and are confident their success in Pennywell will play an important part in attracting more businesses to the industrial estate.”

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