WEC
WEC Group is a UK-based engineering and fabrication company operating 15 manufacturing divisions across 760,000 sq ft, providing laser cutting, CNC machining, fabrication, welding, and finishing services to aerospace, defence, nuclear, rail, oil & gas, and automotive sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersDarwen, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What WEC does
WEC Group Ltd is a privately held UK engineering and fabrication group founded in 1979 by Steve Hartley and Ross Place, headquartered in Darwen, Lancashire. The company operates 15 specialist manufacturing divisions across approximately 760,000 sq ft of floorspace at 10 sites in Lancashire, Merseyside, Yorkshire, Lanarkshire, the West Midlands, and Dorset, employing 1,100+ staff. WEC provides subcontract manufacturing services including laser cutting (flat bed, tube, and 3D bevel), CNC machining and large/heavy machining, waterjet cutting, plasma cutting, robotic and coded welding, fabrication, and in-house powder coating and finishing, serving end-markets such as aerospace and defence, nuclear, oil and gas, rail, automotive, mining, and the public sector.
The group's technology base centres on capital-intensive metalworking equipment, including TRUMPF 24kW fibre lasers capable of cutting mild and stainless steel up to 60mm thick and sheet sizes up to 6m x 2m, Correa Fox M and Correa Axia heavy machining centres with 20-tonne rotary tables supporting components up to 10 tonnes and 6m in length, Dynamic waterjet systems cutting any material up to 200-300mm thick, and 7-axis robotic TIG welding cells. WEC holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 3834, and AS9100 certifications, and runs the WEC Engineering Academy, an in-house apprenticeship programme described as the only welding/fabrication training facility of its calibre in the UK, producing WorldSkills medal-winning apprentices.
WEC monetises through project-based, quote-priced contract manufacturing services, long-term specialist contracts with tier-1 OEMs in nuclear, defence, aerospace, rail, and oil and gas, and product sales (notably CCTV poles exported to the Middle East and Far East, rail structures, and street furniture). Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales supplemented by trade show participation at Subcon, Southern Manufacturing, and LAMMA. The company has grown primarily through a serial acquisition strategy spanning 5750 Components (2008), Nutter Aircrafts (2010), SP Fabrications (2010), Sherburn Metalwork (2011), HTA Group (2014/2015), MTL Advanced (2016), and Laser Profiles (2024).
WEC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WEC
- Legal name
- WEC Group Ltd
- Website
- https://www.wec-group.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- WEC Group is a UK-based engineering and fabrication company operating 15 manufacturing divisions across 760,000 sq ft, providing laser cutting, CNC machining, fabrication, welding, and finishing services to aerospace, defence, nuclear, rail, oil & gas, and automotive sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WEC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Contract Metal Fabrication and Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)
- SIC
- Sheet Metal Work (3444), Aircraft & Parts (3720), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)
- akta.pro primary industry
- CNC Plasma/Laser Cutting & Automated Fabrication Training (EDAOADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- CNC Machining & Programming (EDAOAGAA), Specialty Vehicle Body Manufacturing (Emergency/Military/Mobile Clinics) (IMACAGAD), Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)
Keywords
Where WEC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Darwen
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
WEC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Contract Manufacturing & Fabrication Services: Project-based fabrication, laser cutting, CNC machining, waterjet cutting, and powder coating services delivered as subcontract engineering. Revenue generated through per-project pricing based on complexity, materials, and volume.
- Product Sales: Sale of manufactured products including CCTV poles, rail structures, street furniture, and workshop machinery
- Specialist Manufacturing Contracts: Long-term contracts for sectors including nuclear, defence, automotive, and aerospace with ongoing revenue from major OEM and tier-1 supplier relationships
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom fabrication and machining services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
WEC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WEC Group provides comprehensive subcontract engineering and metal fabrication services including laser cutting, waterjet cutting, CNC machining, coded and robotic welding, fabrication, and powder coating/finishing. The group also manufactures and sells finished products such as CCTV poles and camera mounting solutions, rail structures (signal gantries, footbridges, electrification equipment), and street furniture (seating, litter bins, shelters). Services are delivered through 15 specialist divisions serving aerospace, defence, nuclear, oil & gas, rail, automotive, and public sector customers.
Product overview
WEC Group is one of the UK's largest engineering and fabrication companies, operating a multi-divisional structure with 15 specialist manufacturing companies. The portfolio comprises core service divisions (WEC Fabrication, WEC Laser, WEC Machining, WEC Waterjet, WEC Plasma, WEC Powder Coating, WEC Nuclear, WEC CCTV, WEC Rail, WEC Aerospace) alongside subsidiary divisions (5750 Components, HTA Group, MTL Advanced, Sherburn Metalwork, Laser Profiles, DNA Metalwork, M-Tec Architectural, Goose Foot Street Furniture, Clarendon by WEC). Products include CCTV poles and camera mounting solutions, rail structures, and street furniture. The company offers end-to-end manufacturing services from laser cutting and waterjet cutting to CNC machining, coded welding, fabrication, and finishing (powder coating), serving industries including aerospace, defence, nuclear, oil and gas, rail, and automotive.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WEC Fabrication Services Metal and alloy fabrication services ranging from small precision components to large industrial fabrications, including coded welding (TIG, MIG, ARC), robotic welding, and sheet metalwork, serving aerospace, defence, nuclear, and rail customers.
- WEC Laser Cutting Services Laser cutting services including flat bed, tube, and sheet metalwork using TRUMPF fibre lasers up to 24kW power, capable of cutting mild and stainless steel up to 60mm thick and brass, copper and non-ferrous metals up to 6mm.
- WEC Machining Services CNC machining services including CNC turning, CNC milling, and large/heavy machining using Correa, Haas, Mazak, and Miyano machines for components up to 10 tonnes weight and 6m length.
- WEC Waterjet Cutting Services Waterjet cutting services capable of cutting any materials up to 300mm thick with 4m x 2m bed size, used for precision components and large fabrications across sectors.
- WEC Powder Coating Services In-house powder coating and wet painting finishing services processing components up to 1500mm high, 3000mm long, and 800mm wide in any RAL colour.
- CCTV Poles and Camera Mounting Solutions Manufactured CCTV camera mounting solutions including lattice towers, masts, and columns for surveillance and security applications, exporting to Middle East, North Africa, Kuwait, and Far East markets.
- Rail Structures Rail industry products including signal structures, gantries, footbridges, electrification equipment, and rolling stock metalwork for Network Rail and European rail operators.
- Street Furniture Products Commercial street furniture including seating, litter bins, and shelters supplied to UK local authorities through the Goose Foot Street Furniture division.
- WEC Aerospace Manufacturing Services Aerospace manufacturing services including precision components and fabrications delivered under AS9100 certification for aerospace and defence customers.
- WEC Nuclear Manufacturing Services Nuclear sector fabrication and manufacturing services including heavy engineering fabrications, pressure vessels, and nuclear-grade components under ISO 3834 and ISO 9001 quality standards.
- Workshop Machinery (Clarendon by WEC) Workshop machinery products offered through the Clarendon by WEC subsidiary division.
- Architectural Metalwork (M-Tec) Architectural metalwork fabrication including public art, sculptures, and street features for community and public sector projects.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced lead times through in-house capabilities and state-of-the-art equipment
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use WEC
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
WEC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
WEC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Laser Profiles LtdcoreWEC Group acquired Laser Profiles Ltd, a precision laser cutting firm based near Bournemouth, Dorset, as part of strategic expansion to enhance market presence in the South of England and strengthen technological capabilities. The acquisition adds laser cutting and sheet metal fabrication services to WEC Group's portfolio.
- AWFTE (Association of Welding and Fabrication Training & Education)minorWEC Welding & Engineering Training Academy became a member of AWFTE, gaining access to latest welding and fabrication methods, materials information, and national welding competition opportunities for apprentices.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
WEC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
WEC social profiles
Digital presenceWEC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
WEC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WEC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
WEC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
WEC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WEC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WEC
What does WEC do?
WEC Group provides comprehensive subcontract engineering and metal fabrication services including laser cutting, waterjet cutting, CNC machining, coded and robotic welding, fabrication, and powder coating/finishing. The group also manufactures and sells finished products such as CCTV poles and camera mounting solutions, rail structures (signal gantries, footbridges, electrification equipment), and street furniture (seating, litter bins, shelters). Services are delivered through 15 specialist divisions serving aerospace, defence, nuclear, oil & gas, rail, automotive, and public sector customers.
Is WEC a public or private company?
WEC is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was WEC founded?
WEC was founded in 1979. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is WEC based?
WEC is headquartered in Darwen, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does WEC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Contract Manufacturing & Fabrication Services are the primary driver. The others are product Sales and specialist Manufacturing Contracts.
Does WEC have an API?
No public API is recorded for WEC.
What industry is WEC in?
WEC's product category is Contract Metal Fabrication and Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOADAH, CNC Plasma/Laser Cutting & Automated Fabrication Training, with a secondary code of EDAOAGAA, CNC Machining & Programming. Its NAICS code is 33641 and its SIC code is 3444.