When Whitby Distillery embarked on transforming a 19th century barn near Whitby Abbey into a visitor destination, they wanted every detail to reflect their brand — including what was underfoot. As part of the redevelopment, they decided on decorative cast iron nameplates to honour supporters who had sponsored the project.
This was no ordinary job. The nameplates required an unconventional casting process, to produce in short batches depending on public demand.
As a custom iron casting UK supplier, Fowler & Holden was approached — based on previous work completed for Yorkshire Wildlife Park — to bring this vision to life.
The Brief – Decorative Castings with a Twist
The Whitby Distillery project aimed to:
- Deliver cast iron nameplates to be embedded into the site grounds as a walkway
- Create a distinctive look using flexographic 3D prints instead of traditional patterns
- Provide flexible production based on when new names were added by distillery patrons
- This required a partner that could think beyond standard foundry processes.
Our Approach – Adaptable Casting Without Conventional Patterns
Fowler & Holden adapted their process to accommodate the client’s 3D flexible resin prints.
Step-by-Step:
- Client supplies the 3D print, which contains a list of new names.
- The flexible print is laid over wood backing to add required thickness.
- This assembly is then used to create a mould.
- F&H casts the nameplates using sg iron
This avoided the need for traditional pattern tooling — saving the client time and cost on each plate.
Lead Times and Project Flexibility
One of the key challenges was timing. Each nameplate wasn’t produced on a fixed schedule — it depended on how many customers had bought into the programme.
To support this, we:
- Treated each plate as an ad hoc job, slotted between larger production runs
- Maintained design consistency across batches for visual uniformity
This approach supported the client’s needs without slowing down core foundry operations.
The Result – A Lasting Impression Beneath Every Step
When complete, visitors to Whitby Distillery will be able to walk across nameplates with the names of their sponsors cast into the walkway — a permanent, tangible reminder of community support. The castings will become part of the distillery’s storytelling and visitor experience.
The client has now committed to producing up to 80 nameplates, with regular batches planned as interest continues to grow.
This project showcases Fowler & Holden’s:
- Low-volume casting capability
- Ability to adapt processes to unique formats
- Reliability in decorative and branded cast iron work
Support for long-term, scalable partnerships
FAQs
Q1: Can you cast from 3D prints instead of traditional patterns?
Yes — we regularly work from 3D resin prints for artistic or branded work. It’s ideal for short-run or one-off projects.
Q2: What’s the lead time for decorative castings like nameplates?
Lead time project dependant on batch size and complexity.
Q3: Do you support short-run or ad hoc projects?
Absolutely. We can slot smaller orders into production between larger jobs with minimal delay.
Q4: Can I supply my own CAD or STL files?
Yes. We accept CAD, 3D prints, or even physical samples for reverse engineering.
Q5: Do you offer repeat batch services for long-term campaigns?
Yes — we store tooling and specs to reproduce components consistently across time.
Talk to the Team Behind the Whitby Distillery Project
📞 +44 (0)1472 355 316
📧 enquiries@fowlerandholden.co.uk
🌐 https://fowlerandholden.co.uk/
