About WEC Group
Operating from 10 sites across Lancashire, Merseyside, Yorkshire, Dorset, and the West Midlands, WEC Group employs over 1,100 staff and manages 760,000 sq. ft. of advanced manufacturing space. Made up of 15 specialist companies, we are a leading UK provider of subcontract engineering and metal fabrication services, supporting critical sectors including Aerospace, Defence, Oil & Gas, Nuclear, Mining, and Automotive with high-quality, end-to-end solutions.
History
WEC Group was founded in 1979 as a small two-person workshop in Darwen, Lancashire. Over the last four decades, our commitment to engineering excellence, skilled craftsmanship, and ongoing investment in the latest manufacturing technology has driven our growth into one of Europe’s leading contract manufacturing specialists.
Our Values
Our core values guide every aspect of how we operate. We’re committed to Integrity, Excellence, Positivity, Teamwork, and Safety - principles that shape our culture, drive innovation, and support the development of future engineers through our apprenticeship programmes.
Why WEC?
We provide a complete in-house service, covering everything from concept and design to fabrication and installation. Our experienced team works closely with you to ensure every finished product meets your exact requirements.
Steve Hartley - Founder & Managing Director of WEC Group
Steve Hartley is the founder and Managing Director of WEC Group, he co-founded the company in 1979 after being made redundant, starting from a 1,000 sq ft shed in Darwen, Lancashire, and growing it into a multi-site engineering group employing over 1,050 people across the UK.
A former apprentice himself, Steve has championed skills development throughout his career, including the creation of WEC Group’s Engineering Academy in 2006, delivering high-quality apprenticeship training in welding, fabrication, CNC machining, mechanical engineering and more.
Under his leadership, the business has also supported a range of community and heritage projects, with apprentices contributing to local memorials, restoration work and public builds – reflecting his long-standing commitment to both engineering excellence and the next generation of skilled UK engineers.
Our Growth Over the Years
Since our beginnings in 1979, WEC Group has grown through strategic acquisitions and the creation of specialist divisions, shaping us into one of the UK’s leading engineering and fabrication groups.
Our Nationwide Presence
With 12 sites across England, WEC Group has a strong regional footprint, enabling us to support customers nationwide with efficient, responsive engineering and fabrication services.
Our Facilities
We operate 760,000 sq. ft. of advanced manufacturing floorspace, spread across 10 UK sites and supported by 15 specialist divisions. This extensive capacity allows us to manage a wide variety of complex projects, offering customers a comprehensive service from initial design through to finished product. Our facilities are located in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Merseyside, Dorset, the West Midlands and the East Midlands, enabling us to serve customers nationwide.
This combination of size, expertise and geographical reach ensures we are able to deliver high-quality engineering and fabrication services to a diverse range of industries. Our facilities give us the flexibility to adapt to changing demands, while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality and performance.
Shaping Tomorrow’s Welding and Fabrication Experts
Our Divisions
WEC Special Projects provides nationwide stainless steel fabrication services from a state-of-the-art in-house facility. Our expertise spans high-volume production runs and bespoke architectural metalwork, ensuring efficient, precision-engineered results. Supported by advanced machinery, including pyramid rolls, sub-arc welding systems, and multi-tonne craneage, we deliver durable, consistent fabrications for complex structures. With a strong focus on the architectural sector, we produce everything from large-scale bridges and water features to street furniture and decorative installations, combining high-quality finishes with structural integrity to meet the exacting standards of designers, contractors, and public projects.
WEC Nuclear provides nationwide nuclear‑industry fabrication and contract manufacturing services from a vast in‑house facility with hundreds of skilled staff. Their capabilities include large‑scale stainless, duplex and carbon steel fabrication of containment vessels, pressure vessels, hoppers, chutes, structural steelwork and waste‑handling equipment, all built to the stringent standards required by the nuclear sector. Using advanced equipment such as robotic welding, coded TIG/MIG/ARC welding, cutting‑edge machining and full project management, WEC Nuclear delivers heavy engineering and precision components reliably and efficiently. Accredited to recognised quality, safety and standards frameworks, they support both nuclear decommissioning and new‑build power plant projects across the UK, offering fully traceable, high‑integrity manufacturing solutions.
WEC Laser, formerly Laser Engineering, was established in 1998 when WEC Group invested in its first laser cutting machine to enhance fabrication capabilities. As demand for precision laser cutting and laser engineering grew, a second machine was added to expand subcontract services. Since 2015, WEC Group has invested over £11 million in advanced automated laser cutting technology and manufacturing facilities, ensuring we deliver high-quality, efficient laser fabrication solutions to meet evolving industry needs.
WECJet offers waterjet cutting services that meet the UK’s highest standards, using state-of-the-art waterjet cutting technology. With the ability to cut materials up to 200mm thick, WECJet provides WEC Group with enhanced fabrication capabilities for materials and thicknesses that are unsuitable for laser cutting. This advanced technology allows us to deliver precise, clean cuts on a wide range of materials, ensuring versatility and quality across diverse projects and industries.
WEC Plasma delivers precision plasma cutting services for stainless steel, mild steel, carbon steel, and aluminium components up to 10m x 2.5m x 50mm. Using the latest Multi Bevel High Definition plasma cutting technology, we provide clean, accurate cuts for a wide range of fabrication needs. As part of WEC Group’s comprehensive subcontract engineering services, WEC Plasma enhances our ability to offer efficient, high-quality plasma cutting solutions for diverse industries and applications.
WEC Machining Ltd provides specialist subcontract multi-axis CNC machining and precision engineering services from a 33,000 sq. ft. purpose-built facility in Blackburn. With machining capacities up to 8000mm x 1500mm x 2000mm, we deliver high-precision turning, milling, and conventional machining. Our experienced team supports complex engineering projects. For over 45 years, Clarendon by WEC has also supplied quality industrial, workshop, and educational machinery.
WEC Heavy Machining delivers precision post-fabrication machining services to diverse industries, including niche sectors like Nuclear, Aerospace, Oil & Gas, and Marine. Located in Darwen, Lancashire, our advanced large machining facilities enable us to manage full projects in-house, from initial consultation through to machining and final inspection. We specialise in high-accuracy, quality machining of complex components, ensuring reliable, expert solutions tailored to the demanding requirements of specialist engineering sectors.
WEC CCTV is a leading manufacturer of high-quality CCTV poles, towers, columns, and accessories, specialising in robust camera mounting solutions. With increasing export demand, we supply our precision-engineered CCTV products to customers worldwide. Whether you need durable CCTV mounting structures for security, surveillance, or industrial applications, WEC CCTV offers tailored solutions designed to meet a wide range of project requirements with reliability and expert craftsmanship.
WEC Rail specialises in the design and fabrication of rail structures, including signal gantries, OLE main steel, small part steel, and trackside camera mounting solutions. We also provide EN 15085-accredited rolling stock metalwork, delivering high-quality fabrication of rail components and sub-assemblies (Class 1-4). With rapidly growing demand, WEC Rail now supplies numerous key rail structures across England and Wales, trusted for precision, compliance, and specialist engineering expertise.
WEC Powder Coating provides nationwide powder coating services from a cutting-edge in-house facility. Our advanced Gema powder coating system features two automatic reciprocators and a 90% powder recovery system, ensuring efficient, high-quality finishes. Supported by a comprehensive 5-stage in-line pre-treatment plant, we deliver durable, consistent coatings that meet the exacting standards required across multiple industries, enhancing the performance and longevity of fabricated metal components.
Latest Investments
Laser Investment 2025
MTL’s New XXL Taurus Laser Cutting Machine
This investment means faster turnaround, larger material capacity, and bevel cutting up to 50°, giving us the versatility to meet even the most demanding projects. The Taurus range now includes:
- LVD Taurus 16 XXL 20
- LVD Taurus 16 XXL 12
- LVD Taurus 12 XXL 12
WEC Heavy Machining & Nuclear Fabrication facility
£10m Investment in new development
The new division is set to become one of the largest subcontract machining facilities in Europe.
The facility will be equipped with six large CNC machining centres, capable of handling components up to 20 meters in length and 5 meters in diameter.
Laser Profiles Acquisition
Laser Profiles joined WEC Group in August 2024
Over the past year, they have gone from strength to strength, expanding their manufacturing capabilities, serving new markets in the South of the UK, and continuing to deliver outstanding results for our customers.
We’re proud of the growth and opportunities this partnership has created.