Universal
Universal is a UK-based industrial services company, founded in 1999 in Port Clarence, that provides specialist surface preparation and protective coating application services, with 101-250 employees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersPort Clarence, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Universal does
Universal is a United Kingdom-based specialist industrial services firm that delivers surface preparation and the application of protective coatings. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Port Clarence, the company operates as a private, for-profit business with 101-250 employees. The web domain (universalcoatings.co.uk) confirms positioning within the industrial protective coatings sector, an end-market that typically serves oil & gas, marine, infrastructure, and heavy industrial operators requiring corrosion, abrasion, and chemical-exposure protection of physical assets.
The company is led by Group CEO Bill Scott. Its service offering is built around two interlocking capabilities: surface preparation — the mechanical or chemical treatment of substrates to ready them for coating — and the subsequent application of protective coatings designed to extend asset life in harsh operating environments. This is consistent with specialist industrial-services revenue mechanics, generally project-based or contract-based work scoped per site, per asset, or per maintenance cycle, with potential recurring framework agreements on long-life industrial assets.
The available public information is thin. The company's own website returned only a loading/verification page during data collection, and the supplied source material contains no data on pricing models, customer mix, certifications or accreditations, geographic footprint beyond the UK, financial performance, ownership structure, or competitive positioning. Revenue model, customer segmentation, growth trajectory, and strategic activity cannot be triangulated from the supplied evidence beyond what is described above.
Universal firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Universal
- Website
- https://universalcoatings.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Universal is a UK-based industrial services company, founded in 1999 in Port Clarence, that provides specialist surface preparation and protective coating application services, with 101-250 employees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Universal industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Coatings Services
- SIC
- Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial & Commercial Painting/Coatings/Surface Treatment (IMAIAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Protective Coatings (Steel/Concrete/Equipment) (IMAIAKAB), Application Equipment & Coating Services (Contract Coating, Surface Prep) (IMAEAGAL)
Keywords
Where Universal is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Port Clarence
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Universal business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain
Universal product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Universal provides specialist industrial services focused on surface preparation and the application of protective coatings. The company delivers corrosion protection and surface treatment solutions to industrial clients requiring professional coating application. Operating from Port Clarence in the United Kingdom, Universal serves as a dedicated service provider in the industrial coatings sector.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Surface Preparation and Protective Coating Services Specialist service involving surface preparation and the application of protective coatings for industrial clients. The service is designed for organizations requiring professional corrosion protection and surface treatment for industrial assets.
Companies that use Universal
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Universal technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Universal competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hempel: Danish-headquartered global coatings manufacturer with a strong industrial and marine protective coatings portfolio. Comparable as a leading supplier into the same asset-protection end markets Universal serves across heavy industry, infrastructure, and energy.
- Jotun: Norwegian global coatings manufacturer focused on protective coatings for marine, offshore, and industrial assets. Comparable because its product range is applied by the same kind of specialist applicator base that Universal operates within.
- Sherwin-Williams: World's largest coatings company with an Industrial Protective Coatings division serving heavy-industry asset owners. Comparable as a major protective-coatings manufacturer competing for the same specification slots Universal's customers procure.
- Carboline: US-headquartered specialty manufacturer of corrosion-resistant and protective coatings widely used in oil & gas, petrochemical, and infrastructure. Comparable as a focused industrial protective coatings supplier whose products are routinely applied by contractor applicators like Universal.
- RPM International: US specialty coatings holding company whose subsidiaries (e.g. Carboline, Stonhard) serve industrial protective coatings markets. Comparable through Carboline specifically as a focused industrial protective coatings brand applied by contractor networks similar to Universal.
- AkzoNobel: Global paints and coatings manufacturer headquartered in the Netherlands. Comparable as the dominant supplier of industrial protective coatings that Universal would apply, and the owner of International Protective Coatings which addresses the same end-market asset-protection needs.
- PPG Industries: US-listed global coatings supplier with a substantial industrial protective coatings business serving oil & gas, marine, and infrastructure. Comparable as a major brand whose coatings are applied in the same industrial surface-preparation context Universal operates in.
Direct peers
- Bilfinger: German-listed industrial services provider with a UK industrial services arm delivering surface treatment, coatings, and maintenance to process-industry clients. Comparable as a direct contractor competitor delivering the same combination of surface preparation and protective coatings application services Universal provides.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Universal financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Universal leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Universal funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Universal M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Universal
What does Universal do?
Universal provides specialist industrial services focused on surface preparation and the application of protective coatings. The company delivers corrosion protection and surface treatment solutions to industrial clients requiring professional coating application. Operating from Port Clarence in the United Kingdom, Universal serves as a dedicated service provider in the industrial coatings sector.
When was Universal founded?
Universal was founded in 1999. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Universal based?
Universal is headquartered in Port Clarence, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Universal's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hempel, Jotun, Sherwin-Williams, Carboline, RPM International, AkzoNobel and PPG Industries. Bilfinger is listed as a direct peer.
Does Universal have an API?
No public API is recorded for Universal.
What industry is Universal in?
Universal's product category is Industrial Coatings Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAAAK, Industrial & Commercial Painting/Coatings/Surface Treatment, with a secondary code of IMAIAKAB, Industrial Protective Coatings (Steel/Concrete/Equipment). Its SIC code is 3470.