Goodwin Steel Castings

The origins of the company can be traced back to the founding of R. Goodwin & Sons, an iron foundry and engineering business, in 1883. It was established by Ralph Goodwin and his sons. Originally operated as a partnership, it was converted into a limited company via the incorporation of R. Goodwin & Sons (Engineers) Ltd. on 11 October 1935. The firm developed itself into a specialist in mechanical and refractory engineering; the design and manufacture of metal components and mineral-based products that can retain their form and strength under extremely high temperatures.

During 1952, Goodwin secured a licence from the International Nickel Company that permitted them to produce ductile iron. Six years later, the company was listed for the first time on the London Stock Exchange; by the twenty-first century, it was one of the 10 oldest companies to be listed there. Despite its listing, the Goodwin family has long retained a sizable stake in the business.

In 1983, to mark the company's centenary, Goodwin was granted a coat of arms. One year later, it became the first steel foundry in the world to be awarded accreditation by the British Standards Institution to BS5750 (now ISO9001) for casting production. During 1986, Goodwin secured a licence from Langley alloys to produce Super Duplex Stainless Steel (Ferralium Alloy 255 3SC (UNS S32550)).

During 1990, Goodwins were granted an exclusive (to the UK) licence from Haynes International to produce cast Hastelloy (super nickel alloys). Two years later, it was awarded a "best practice" certificate for Computer Aided Methoding from the British Government's Energy Efficiency Office. In 1999, the firm was accredited to ISO14001 Environmental Management System.

In 2006, it was awarded the Queen's Award for International Trade. Two years later, the firm started supplying Caryophyllene for an American research programme.

During 2012, the company manufactured the world‘s largest super nickel alloy casting. That same year, Goodwin was criticised for its failure to comply with the requirements of the Financial Services Authority that it have non-executive directors on the board.

By the 2010s, the oil and gas sector comprised a substantial portion (as much as 50 percent for some years) of Goodwin's revenues and profits; the sector regularly used its high-spec large-scale valves. During 2014, oil prices crashed and the company's workload from the oil and gas sector sharply contracted, leading to some hardship over the following seven years for the firm's mechanical engineering division. Other than the oil and gas sector, other major end markets for the firm's products at this time included the defence, aerospace and mining sectors.

During 2016, Goodwin commenced the expansion of its original foundry site by 22 percent; this involved the creation of an engineered retaining wall. In early 2020, the company embarked on an expansion of its Stoke-on-Trent headquarters, which involves the addition of two extra levels at its Hanley site for more office space and the construction of a 60-space multi storey car park.