Welding Engineering UK

45+

YEARS IN BUSINESS

WELDING ENGINEERING UK

Introduction

WEC Fabrication is a key division of the WEC Group, specialising in the design, fabrication and welding of metal and alloy components, including premium-grade stainless steel and mild steel products. We deliver complete fabrication solutions across a broad range of industries, supporting both standard production and fully bespoke projects with exceptional precision, consistency and attention to detail. Our focus on engineering excellence, product quality and continuous innovation has established us as a trusted metal fabrication partner to clients throughout the UK and internationally.

As part of the wider WEC Group, one of the UK’s leading engineering and fabrication companies, WEC Fabrication benefits from extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities, a highly skilled team, and access to over 760,000 sq. ft. of advanced production space. Our operations are ISO 9001:2015 certified and carried out in line with rigorous standards such as ASME and BS EN 1090-1, ensuring full compliance and outstanding quality across every project.

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Our Growth Over the Years

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A British Engineering Success Story

1979-1986: The early years

WEC (The Welding Engineering Company) was established in 1979 by Steve Hartley and Ross Place, both skilled tradesmen who found themselves redundant during the UK’s economic downturn and the “three-day week”. Determined to build something of their own, they launched a small welding and fabrication business from a modest 1,000 square foot shed on Taylor Street in Darwen, Lancashire.

By 1983, with business steadily growing, the company was ready to expand. A neighbouring fire incident prompted Steve and Ross to invest £10,000 in a 10,000 square foot semi-derelict site on Cranberry Lane, Darwen. Though it required major renovation, the move marked a turning point for the business, which had grown to a four-person team.

It was at Cranberry Lane that WEC's direction began to shift. A request from one of the UK’s first CCTV companies led to the development of the TW8 – an 8-metre static camera tower (later known as the ST8). The successful design laid the foundations for what would become WEC’s thriving CCTV mounting division.

Shortly after, WEC secured its second major contract, manufacturing motorway lighting poles for Philips (now TYCO). This breakthrough allowed Steve and Ross to clear their debts, reinvest in machinery, and expand their capabilities—setting the stage for the large-scale manufacturing operation WEC is known for today.

1987-2003: Steady growth

Over the next eight years, the company continued to thrive, and in 1987 it officially became a limited company. As the workforce and machinery quickly outgrew the Cranberry Lane premises, a larger facility was needed. In 1992, the business relocated to a 20,000 square foot site on Junction Street, Darwen, by which time the team had grown to over 100 employees.

During this period, co-founder Ross Place stepped away to pursue other interests, leaving Steve Hartley to lead the company’s ongoing development. To meet rising demand, an additional 35,000 square feet of manufacturing space was gradually acquired to support continued growth.

The late 1990s marked a turning point for WEC with the adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technology. In 1998, the company invested in its first laser cutting machine, opening up a new era of precision metal cutting services. With the machine operating at full capacity, a second laser was soon added, allowing WEC to expand its offering and deliver subcontract laser cutting services to external clients.

As operations scaled up, the business was reorganised into three specialist divisions: Welding Engineering, Laser Engineering, and Camera Mounting Solutions. In 2003, the company rebranded as WEC Group Ltd to reflect its broader capabilities and strategic growth.

Ongoing expansion called for further investment in infrastructure. In 2004, land was acquired on Spring Vale Road, Darwen, where a new 30,000 square foot, purpose-built facility was constructed for Welding Engineering. By 2006, the site had been enhanced with a dedicated office block and car park to accommodate the growing workforce and evolving operational needs.

2004-2006: Rapid Growth

In 2005, WEC Group established m-tec to meet the growing demand for bespoke architectural metalwork in the public realm. Specialising in the design, manufacture and consultation of contemporary street architecture, m-tec collaborates with architects, artists and local authorities on regeneration projects across the UK. Known for delivering striking and structurally complex stainless steel fabrication work, the division has played a key role in some of the country’s most iconic and innovative public installations.

Later that year, Group Managing Director Steve Hartley was approached by local firm Precision Engineers Rishton with an opportunity to acquire the business and its full range of industrial and educational machinery. At the time, WEC Group was outsourcing a significant amount of machining, and bringing this capability in-house aligned with the company’s long-term strategy. The acquisition was completed in December 2005, along with an additional 15,000 square foot facility on Junction Street to house the new machining division. In 2007, the division was rebranded as Hi-Spec CNC, now a key provider of precision CNC machining services within the Group.

Faced with a national shortage of skilled welders and fabricators, and having had to turn down work due to a lack of qualified personnel, Steve made the bold decision to invest in the future of the industry. In 2006, the WEC Welding & Engineering Training Academy was launched. Fully funded by the Group, the Academy was created to develop the next generation of talent through a structured welding apprenticeship programme. Led by a full-time welding instructor, the Academy has since welcomed a minimum of 10 apprentice welders each year, many of whom have progressed into key roles across the business—cementing WEC’s commitment to skills development and long-term growth.

2007-2019: Acquisitions, new ventures, and rapid growth

In 2008, WEC Group completed its second major acquisition by purchasing 5750 Components Ltd, a laser cutting specialist based in Knowsley, Liverpool. This strategic move expanded capacity within the Group’s growing laser division. That same year, WEC also began a three-year sponsorship of local football club Blackburn Rovers, helping boost brand awareness and support recruitment across Lancashire.

The following year saw the opening of a new, purpose-built laser cutting facility—The Technology Centre—designed and constructed by WEC employees to house some of the world’s most advanced laser machinery. In 2010, the Group acquired SP Fabs and Blackburn-based Nutter Aircrafts to further strengthen its fabrication and precision engineering offering. SP Fabs was later integrated into the newly formed WEC Special Projects division, delivering complex, bespoke metal fabrication services.

By the start of the 2010s, WEC Group had grown from a small welding business into one of the UK’s leading engineering and fabrication companies, employing over 300 people across 140,000+ square feet of manufacturing space. In 2011, the company expanded further with the launch of Sherburn Metalwork Ltd, a 27,000 sq. ft. factory near Leeds created to support a multi-million-pound contract manufacturing bus frames and chassis—marking the Group’s first move into Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, the WEC Welding & Engineering Academy continued to flourish. Its annual apprenticeship intake grew to 12, and students worked on high-profile projects including a stainless steel Spitfire memorial now proudly displayed in Darwen town centre.

In 2012, a £3 million investment led to the creation of a 33,000 sq. ft. purpose-built site at Walker Park in Blackburn. Here, Hi-Spec CNC and Nutter Aircrafts were merged to form WEC Machining, enhancing the Group’s CNC machining service offering while freeing space in Darwen for expanded laser fabrication capabilities, including thin-gauge sheet metal fabrication.

Further growth came in 2013 with the establishment of WECJet Ltd, a 17,000 sq. ft. waterjet cutting division in Blackburn. The new facility expanded the Group’s profiling services for thicker materials, and the rapid addition of a second and third waterjet machine enabled large format cutting up to 7.3 metres—unlocking new market opportunities.

In 2015, WEC Group made a significant leap forward with a £500,000 investment in a fully automated powder coating line at its Darwen headquarters, leading to the launch of WEC Powder Coating. This marked a key step toward the company’s ambition of becoming a true one-stop-shop contract manufacturer.

That same year, in February, Rotherham based contract manufacturing MTL Group entered administration following some financial difficulties linked to a large export contract, and WEC Group acquired the assets of the ailing company, saving 133 jobs in the process and increasing the company’s staff count to over 600. MTL Advanced Ltd was set up as a new very successful division of the Group, with staff count steadily creeping back up over the next few years, paving the way for further growth for WEC Group, with new opportunities within high-spec sectors including defence, construction, and rolling stock.

This was shortly followed by the acquisition of HTA Group in Coventry, a leading laser cutting and sheet metal fabrication business based in Coventry, West Midlands, adding an extra 130 staff to our headcount and bringing the company over the 800 staff mark, representing an 80% growth in staff in just two years. This also brought the total of laser cutting machines available within the Group to over 20, effectively turning the business into one of the largest laser cutting and fabrication operations in the UK.

In 2017, expansion was due at WEC’s Knowsley based division 5750 Components Ltd, and the company relocated to a new 33,000 sq. ft. facility just 500 yards away from their old site on the back of a £3m investment in additional floorspace and state-of-the-art fibre laser technology which led to a massive increase in laser cutting & fabrication capacity at the site.

These acquisitions were pivotal in reinforcing WEC Group’s position as the largest fabrication company in the UK and a trusted supplier for demanding, regulated industries.

2020: Weathering the Pandemic Storm

2020 was a year of unprecedented global disruption, but WEC Group rose to the challenge with resilience and adaptability. As the pandemic unfolded, we responded swiftly to support critical national infrastructure and frontline services. Through rapid innovation and commitment, we continued operating at full capacity during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.

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VentillatorUK Challenge

Granted “key worker” status, WEC Group stayed fully operational, providing 24/7 manufacturing for essential industries. We repurposed facilities to produce ventilator components and medical equipment, delivering critical parts within 24 hours. We also supplied key equipment for the Birmingham Nightingale Hospital, ensuring vital support during the crisis.

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Pooley Bridge Fabrication

During the first lockdown, WEC fabricated and installed the UK’s first stainless steel road bridge in Pooley Bridge, Lake District. The 40m open-spandrel arch structure, made from 110 tonnes of Duplex 2205 stainless steel and concrete, was built in four sections at our Darwen site, requiring 22,000-man hours and a custom jig for simultaneous assembly.

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Royal Mail Contract

WEC Group also managed to secure other high-profile contracts during this turbulent time, and in July 2020, they announced that they have secured a multi-million pounds contract with Royal Mail to manufacture all the iconic red letterboxes and associated fabricated metal products which form part of the British heritage.

2020: Apprentices at the heart of WEC’s long term growth

With the UK’s engineering skills gap continuing to pose the biggest challenge to growth, WEC Group’s Managing Director, Steve Hartley, pressed ahead with plans to build a state-of-the-art 25,000 sq. ft. Welding & Engineering Academy. Having started his own career as an apprentice, Steve has long championed the value of hands-on training and chose to personally fund the £3 million project. Construction began in 2020 and continued throughout the pandemic lockdowns, with current welding apprenticeship students fabricating the steelwork and playing an active role in building the very facility that will shape the next generation of skilled engineers.
2021 - 2024: The Modern Chapters of the WEC journey

WEC Group has over 45 years of experience as one of the UK’s leading engineering and fabrication companies, providing a complete one-stop-shop supply chain service for customers across multiple sectors. Operating from more than 10 manufacturing facilities and 16 specialist divisions, we continue to strengthen our capabilities through ongoing investment in advanced technologies such as laser cutting, waterjet, and CNC machining. Between 2021 and 2024, this commitment led to major developments, including the creation of a Plasma Cutting division in 2021, the 2024 acquisition of our first company in the South of England, Laser Profiles based in Dorset, a £10 million investment in a state-of-the-art 24kW laser cutting machine, and the launch of our dedicated Nuclear Division to support the UK’s growing nuclear supply chain.
Present Day

This year, we are reaching another milestone with the construction of our new heavy machining facility. This £10 million investment will house two 12.5m x 5m x 2m Correa Fox M Gantry Milling machines and two 12m x 3m x 1.5m Correa Axia Travelling Column machines, both equipped with 2.5m x 2.5m rotary tables, allowing us to produce some of the largest machined components in Europe and finish machine heavy fabrications. The brand-new 60,000 sq. ft. facility will significantly expand our capacity, establish WEC as Europe’s largest subcontract heavy machining and nuclear fabrication facility, and create 50 new jobs to further strengthen our workforce and capabilities.