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Alford Engineering Services
Bespoke engineering from the team behind Alford’s tools. Design, development and live testing at our in-house workshop and licensed UK ranges.
Alford’s engineering team now takes on external projects. The same engineers who design, build and prove our own explosive tools are available for client work: concept and design, mechanical and product engineering, and live testing and trials at our licensed UK ranges.
If your project involves explosive effects, energetic materials handling, or hardware that is robust enough to survive them, we can take it from drawing board to deployment under one roof.
What we do
Design and development
We focus on concept development, feasibility studies, and iterative design for explosive tools, charges, and related hardware. However, our expertise is not limited to explosives; we have also worked on various other projects, including… Our primary design philosophy prioritizes the operator, ensuring safety margins, ease of handling in the field, and predictable effects.
Mechanical and product engineering
CAD, prototyping and production engineering. We take designs from first article to manufacture-ready, drawing on the processes behind our own product line.
Testing and trials
Live firing, effects characterisation and trials support at Broadmead and Emborough Ranges.
The team behind the tools
Every product in the Alford catalogue started here. The DemiMod, the Bangalore Blade, the Vulcan family and Project REDS were designed, prototyped and proven by this team before any client ever fired one.
That matters because explosives engineering rewards experience over theory. Our engineers work daily with explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), breaching, and demolitions requirements, and we test every design decision against the same standard we apply to our own tools: does it protect the people using it?
Who we work with
Military
Effects development, tool design and trials support for defence programmes and primes, from requirement capture through to fielded hardware.
Government
Discreet engineering support for agencies and departments with specialist requirements. We are used to working under restrictions and to documentation standards that survive scrutiny.
Commercial
Engineering capacity and licensed test facilities for the energy, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and demolition sectors, without the overhead of building an in-house explosives capability.
How to choose an engineering partner
A short, honest checklist. Whoever you talk to, ask:
Have they fielded their own designs? Paper studies are cheap. Hardware that operators trust is not.
Can they test what they design? A partner with their own licensed ranges closes the loop between design and evidence in days, not months.
Do they understand the end user? Explosive tools fail in the field, not in the workshop. Look for direct EOD, breaching or demolitions pedigree.
Will they tell you no? Good engineering partners kill weak concepts early. It is cheaper for everyone.
We are confident in all four. If another partner fits your project better, we will say so.
How it works
1 – Enquire. Email [sales@explosives.net] with an outline of the requirement. A rough problem statement is enough to start.
2 – Scope. We discuss feasibility, constraints and timescales, under NDA where needed.
3 – Deliver. Design, build, test, or all three, with documentation at each stage.
What Our Customers Say
“I wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for the invaluable support and collaboration we have received from you…
Your dedication to excellence and commitment to delivering high-quality products have significantly contributed to our success. In a year marked by challenges and uncertainties, your steadfast support allowing us to navigate the complexities of the business landscape with confidence. Your responsiveness, reliability, and flexibility have played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of our operations.
Your proactive approach, attention to detail, and commitment to meeting our needs have set a standard of excellence that we greatly value. Looking ahead to the future, we are excited about the possibilities that our continued collaboration holds. Your innovative solutions and dedication to improvement align seamlessly with our vision, and we are confident that together, we can face any challenges that may arise.”
Operations Director, Penta Electrical Safety Products
Frequently asked questions
Can you test hardware we have designed ourselves?
Yes. Testing and trials are available as a standalone service.
Do you work under NDA?
Yes, as standard for scoped projects.
What is your typical lead time?
It depends on scope and current commitments. We take on external work on a project basis and will give you an honest answer at the enquiry stage.