UK engineering company plunges into administration – in business since 1964 | UK | News
A UK manufacturing company founded more than 60 years ago has gone into administration. Founded in 1964, Compact Orbital Gears Limited operates as a highly specialized engineering firm. The business designs, manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of gearboxes and test equipment. Gearboxes are components of a machine that control speed and power; Test rigs, on the other hand, are special machines used to test how well other equipment performs before being used in the real world.
Although its primary focus includes the demanding automotive and aerospace sectors, the company has also historically supplied components for complex industrial applications and the growing wind turbine market.
Andrew Turpin and Matthew Douglas Hardy, of insolvency firm Poppleton & Appleby, were appointed joint administrators on March 13, The Gazette reported. While the company officially registered its office in Birmingham, its main manufacturing and trading address was at the Brynberth Industrial Estate in Rhayader, Powys.
Following their appointment, an official announcement was published. Newspaper On May 7, it announced that a virtual meeting with the company’s creditors was scheduled for June 2 at 11 a.m. The main purpose of this meeting is to establish a creditors committee.
Throughout late 2025 and early 2026, the manufacturing sector faces pressure from rising operational costs, supply chain bottlenecks and shrinking profit margins.
Many other established businesses have recently collapsed due to similar economic woes. In February, British aviation company Orbex went into administration.
