Martin Burnham
Founding Director
Martin is a highly experienced business man and entrepreneur, having spent the past 30 years in different parts of the metals and materials industry. A qualified metallurgist and Charted Engineer, Martin has worked for many well-known companies in the metals industry, including Inco, Krupp VDM, IMI Titanium, Superalloys International Ltd, before going into business in his own right.
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In 2001 Martin completed the buyout of the heavy forgings division of Daniel Doncasters plc, and over the next 10 years took the business from £2m to £20m measured by sales, overseeing significant capital investment and expansion of its operations. The company was named Independent Forgings & Alloys Ltd (IFA).
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In 2011, Martin committed to starting IIDEA Limited, at the same time as he withdrew from day to day management of IFA, where he remains Chairman of the Board and significant shareholder.
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Martin is on the board of the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturers Research Centre and contributes to the NATEP Program and the Science and Innovation Board of Sheffield City Region, and the Cutlers Company in Hallamshire. He is a well-known figure in manufacturing and engineering circles in Sheffield and further afield.
