The site, which was a foundry that specialised in metal castings closed in 2015 after over 100 years in operation.The loss of a contract with a vehicle manufacturer led to a historic castings manufacturer entering administration which ultimately led to it's demise and Coupe Foundry Ltd entered administration on 27 January 2014. 

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The business initially traded while in administration and was purchased in 2014 by Coupe Casting Ltd. Through two companies, Coupe Casting Ltd and Coupe Equipment Ltd, the purchaser acquired the business and assets for a total of £275,000 with the deal saving all 83 jobs. At the date of administration, Coupe Foundry Ltd owed £1.08m to unsecured creditors. Coupe Foundry Ltd was incorporated in 2004 when it was acquired out of administration but the business itself had been trading for more than 100 years at its site in Higher Walton, near Preston.

 

It was originally known as William Coupe Ltd. The business is thought to be one of the biggest jobbing foundries in the UK and supplies metal castings for car body parts, frames for machines, water pumps and parts for the wind energy sector. It also produces the moulds for the manufacturing process into which molten metal is poured. Historically, the business had not received contract work and instead relied upon its ability to generate new and repeat orders. But one of the few contracts it did have was with a vehicle manufacturer and this was withdrawn in spring 2013 which caused cash flow difficulties as the company was unable to generate enough orders to compensate for the loss, the administrators said.
Orders significantly reduced in 2013 and this led to cash flow issues which led to it falling behind with payments to some suppliers. It began to receive new orders in late 2013 yet because of the reduction earlier in the year and the time taken to finish projects, the increased orders did not have an immediate positive effect. As a result the company started to seek external investment or a sale and entered administration in early 2014.
The company apparently entered liquidation in 2018.​