In August 2026, Helix reached an important milestone.

30 years in business.

Thirty years is a long time in manufacturing.

In that time, machines have become faster and more capable. Cutting tools have continued to evolve. Materials have become increasingly demanding. Manufacturing processes have become more sophisticated, while the pressure to improve productivity and control costs has only increased.

Helix has changed alongside all of that.

But while the technology has moved forward, one principle has remained consistent: understanding the customer and the application comes first.

From tooling supplier to technical partner

Helix was founded in 1996, with its roots firmly established in Yorkshire.

The early years were about building relationships, developing technical knowledge and becoming a trusted source of cutting tools for manufacturing businesses.

Over time, that role has evolved.

Today, Helix combines cutting tools from some of the world’s leading manufacturers with application knowledge, process support, tooling management and data-driven solutions.

The aim is not simply to supply a tool. It is to understand what the customer is trying to achieve and identify where improvements can be made.

That might mean finding a more productive cutting tool. It might mean improving tool life. It might mean reducing cycle times. It might mean making sure the right tooling is available when it is needed.

Or it might mean looking more broadly at a manufacturing process to understand where time, cost or productivity can be improved.

Three decades of change

One of the defining features of manufacturing is that it never stands still.

What worked 30 years ago may not be the best approach today.

That means businesses supporting manufacturers have to evolve too. Over the past three decades, Helix has expanded its capabilities and geographical reach.

After establishing its foundations in Yorkshire, the business opened its Durham location in 2021 and Sheffield location in 2023, strengthening its support for manufacturers across the North East and Yorkshire.

In 2025, Helix continued that expansion with the opening of its Blackburn branch, extending its presence into the North West and bringing its technical support and tooling expertise closer to manufacturers across the region.

Today, Helix operates from locations in Leeds, Durham, Sheffield and Blackburn, supporting manufacturers across the North of England.

The expansion reflects something that has been central to Helix throughout its history: being close to the manufacturers we work with and understanding the challenges they face.

Thirty years ago, that meant building relationships and establishing a reputation for technical expertise.

Today, it means continuing to invest in people, locations, technical knowledge and the solutions needed to support modern manufacturing.

The importance of experience

Thirty years brings experience. And, importantly, experience of the challenges that manufacturers face every day.

But experience only has value if it continues to be applied to new problems.

That’s why technical knowledge remains such an important part of Helix. Our application engineers have practical manufacturing experience, helping them understand the realities behind the tooling decisions being made on the shop floor.

Because choosing a cutting tool isn’t simply about selecting a product from a catalogue.

It’s about understanding the material, machine, component, parameters and production requirements and bringing those factors together to find the right solution.

Built on relationships

Thirty years in business isn’t achieved through products alone. It’s built through relationships.

Relationships with customers who have trusted Helix to support their manufacturing operations. Relationships with suppliers who provide the technology and products we work with. And relationships between the people within Helix who have contributed to the company’s development over the years.

That is something we are particularly proud of.

The manufacturing industry has changed significantly since 1996, but the value of having knowledgeable people who understand your operation has not.

Looking ahead

Reaching 30 years is an opportunity to look back and recognise how far Helix has come.

But it is also an opportunity to look forward.

Manufacturing continues to change. Automation, data, new materials, increasingly sophisticated machines and continued pressure on productivity are creating new opportunities, as well as new challenges for manufacturing businesses.

Helix will continue to evolve with them.

Our focus remains simple: combining the right tooling with the technical knowledge and support needed to help manufacturers improve their processes.

30 years of experience gives us a strong foundation.

But we’re not looking backwards.

We’re looking at what comes next.

30 years of Helix.

And plenty more to come.