Tadweld

What Tadweld does

Tadweld is a UK-based specialist engineering and fabrication business established in 1983, headquartered in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, with 11-50 employees. The company designs, manufactures, and installs bespoke steel and metal fabrication products including industrial platforms, mezzanines, access walkways, conveyor crossovers, structural steelwork, stairs, fire escapes, safety barriers, and tanker access solutions. Core technology includes laser welding (invested via Made Smarter grant in 2023), CAD design, 3D laser scanning for site surveys, and precision manufacturing certified to UKAS ISO 9001 and EN 1090-2 UKCA Execution Class 3 standards.

The business operates a project-based, custom fabrication revenue model with pricing determined by scope, materials (galvanised mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium), and complexity. Quotes are valid for 30 days and installation is delivered by CSCS-accredited teams with RAMS documentation. Go-to-market is sales-led enterprise field sales targeting large manufacturers in food & drink, distribution, construction, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, and renewables sectors, with several customers maintaining 20+ year relationships (KHS, Caw Ingredients). Tadweld sells directly from its Tadcaster facility with nationwide UK coverage and serves enterprise customers including Coca-Cola, Diageo, Heineken, Britvic, and Refresco.

The company expanded in October 2020 through its first acquisition, AJAX Safe Access, a 40-year-old brand for tanker access steps and pallet gates acquired from Canal Engineering. Tadweld is privately held, controlled by Managing Director Chris Houston, with no external institutional backing, and reported being on track for its strongest year in 2026 following a successful 2025. The company holds multiple safety and quality accreditations including ROSPA Gold and SafeContractor Approval, and was named Manufacturer of the Year (under £10m) at the 2026 Made in Yorkshire Awards.

Name

Tadweld

Legal name

Tadweld Limited

Website

https://tadweld.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tadweld is a UK specialist engineering and fabrication business founded in 1983, designing, manufacturing, and installing bespoke steel platforms, mezzanines, structural steelwork, and tanker access solutions for enterprise customers in food & drink, logistics, construction, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, and renewables sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Steel Fabrication and Access Platforms

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)

akta.pro primary industry

Structural Steel Fabrication (IMADACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Steel Plate, Sections & Welded Assemblies (IMADACAD)

Keywords

• Steel fabrication services
• Access platform manufacturing
• Structural steelwork
• Tanker access solutions
• Industrial metalwork

Headquarters

HQ city

Tadcaster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Fabrication Projects: Project-based custom steel fabrication services including design, manufacturing, and installation of platforms, mezzanines, stairs, structural steelwork, and access solutions. Revenue generated through individual project contracts, with pricing based on scope, materials, and complexity.
2. Design Services: Engineering design services including site surveys, CAD drawings, structural assessments, and project planning as part of comprehensive fabrication projects.
3. Installation Services: On-site installation of fabricated products by CSCS-accredited teams, including Risk and Method Statement (RAMS) provision.
4. AJAX Safe Access Products: Sale of proprietary AJAX tanker access steps, pallet gates, and safety equipment products for warehousing and industrial applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tadweld designs, manufactures, and installs bespoke steel fabrication products including industrial platforms, mezzanines, access walkways, structural steelwork, stairs, tanker access systems, and safety guarding. The company operates from its Tadcaster facility, serving food & drink, distribution, construction, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, and renewables customers across the UK with integrated design, manufacturing, and on-site installation services.

Product overview

Tadweld is a specialist engineering and fabrication business offering a comprehensive portfolio of steel and metal fabrication products and services. The product range is organized into six main categories: Platforms & Mezzanines (industrial platforms, stainless steel platforms, walkways, conveyor crossovers, machine access, tank access); Stairs & Access (external stairs, roof access, fire escapes, factory stairs, cat ladders, mobile access steps); Structural Steelwork (primary steelwork, secondary steelwork, structural aluminium, frameworks, machine stands, pipebridges); AJAX Tanker Access (loading gantries, tanker access steps, mobile tanker steps - acquired brand from Canal Engineering in 2020); Railings, Guards & Cages (handrails, conveyor guarding, safety barriers, safety guarding, security cages, architectural metalwork); and Sheet Metalwork & Specialty Products (laser welding, workbenches, chutes, hoppers, trolleys, custom fabrication, production offices, pallet gates, welding tables, tip skips, ice baths). Services include Design (site surveys, CAD, structural calculations, 3D laser scanning), Manufacturing (structural steel and sheet metal fabrication with ISO9001 and EN1090-2 Execution Class 3 certifications), and Installation (CSCS-accredited teams with RAMS documentation). The company serves diverse markets including food & drink, distribution, construction, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, and renewables.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design Services Engineering design services including site surveys, CAD drawings, structural calculations, and 3D laser scanning for project planning.
• Manufacturing Services Structural steel and sheet metal fabrication services including laser welding, with UKAS ISO9001 certification and EN1090 Execution Class 3 capabilities.
• Installation Services Professional site installation by CSCS-accredited teams, including Risk and Method Statement (RAMS) documentation and compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Platforms & Mezzanines Industrial platforms, stainless steel platforms, access walkways, conveyor crossovers, machine access and tank access systems for industrial facilities.
• Stairs & Access External stairs, roof access, fire escapes, factory stairs, cat ladders, and mobile access steps for industrial and commercial buildings.
• Structural Steelwork Primary steelwork, secondary steelwork, structural aluminium, framework and sub-assemblies, machine stands, and pipebridges and supports.
• AJAX Tanker Access Systems Tanker loading gantries and fixed, pneumatic and mobile tanker access steps providing compliant safe access to road tankers, ISO tankers and rail stock for loading, sampling and maintenance.
• Railings, Guards & Cages Industrial handrails, conveyor guarding, safety barriers, safety guarding, security cages and architectural railings and metalwork.
• Sheet Metalwork Laser welding services and fabricated sheet metalwork including workbenches, chutes, hoppers and trolleys.
• Specialty Products Custom fabrication, production offices, pallet gates, welding tables, tip skips and ice baths for specialised industrial applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero disruption to client production during installation projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canal Engineering (AJAX Safe Access)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 21 October 2020Tadweld acquired AJAX Safe Access from Canal Engineering. AJAX specialises in safe access solutions including tanker access steps, pallet gates, and safety equipment with a 40-year heritage. The acquisition marked Tadweld's first acquisition and significantly expanded their product offerings in the safety equipment market.
• PRO-DEVELOPMENT (UK) LIMITEDminorOthersEmployee engagement survey partner that helped measure and improve workplace satisfaction. Survey results showed 19% above national average engagement.
• Brook Corporate DevelopmentsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSupported Tadweld's continuous improvement and employee development activities.
• Leeds University Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaging Director Chris Houston completed the Help to Grow: Management Course at Leeds University Business School, a government-backed programme designed to equip business leaders with growth tools and insights.
• Ideas GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilmed at Tadweld facilities for a promotional video commissioned by Invest in York & North Yorkshire, showcasing the region as a manufacturing hub of excellence.
• Invest in York & North YorkshireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommissioned promotional video featuring Tadweld as part of a project highlighting York and North Yorkshire's strength as a manufacturing region of excellence.
• The WRPD Group LTDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated and installed new vehicle designs and wraps on five vans and trailers for Tadweld's fleet.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Severfield plc: Largest UK structural steel fabrication group, serving construction, commercial, and industrial sectors with design, fabrication, and installation capabilities. Closest at-scale analogue to Tadweld's structural steelwork and platform offering but operating across multiple UK and Indian sites.
• William Hare Group: Major UK structural and architectural steel fabricator with EN 1090 capabilities and global project delivery. Comparable in core structural steel fabrication and access/architectural metalwork but at materially larger scale.
• Barrett Steel Group: Major UK steel stockholder and processor supplying structural sections and plate to fabrication and construction markets. A broader incumbent that overlaps with Tadweld on steel sourcing, processing, and supply into fabrication end-uses.
• Hörmann UK: Established UK and European supplier of industrial doors, loading equipment, and access solutions including dock levellers and safety barriers. Comparable in distribution channels and safety-equipment product layer adjacent to Tadweld's pallet gates and access range.

Direct peers

• Caunton Engineering: UK structural steel fabricator delivering design, fabrication, and erection services across commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects. Directly comparable to Tadweld in scope, customer mix, and EN 1090 execution-class capabilities, though at larger scale.
• SH Structures Ltd: UK-based specialist in architectural and structural steelwork, including complex fabrications and bridges. Directly comparable for high-specification Execution Class 3 work, which is the upper end of Tadweld's certification envelope.
• Four-Tees Engineers Ltd: UK structural steelwork and architectural metalwork fabricator serving construction, industrial, and commercial sectors. Comparable mid-market peer with design, fabrication, and installation services aligned to Tadweld's offering.
• ECS Engineering Services Ltd: UK structural steel fabricator delivering access platforms, walkways, staircases, and bespoke fabrications to industrial clients. Directly comparable to Tadweld's platforms, mezzanines, and access solutions portfolio.
• Bourne Group: UK structural steel and architectural metalwork fabricator with design, fabrication, and installation services across commercial and industrial projects. Comparable to Tadweld's combined structural and architectural metalwork offering.

Regional players

• NTS Direct (Nationwide Towing & Access Solutions): UK supplier of tanker access steps and loading equipment overlapping directly with Tadweld's AJAX Safe Access product line in oil & gas and chemical tanker-loading applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tadweld-limited

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tadweld