2 minute read - 17th April 2024
WEC Group investing £10m in new facility in Blackburn
Subcontract manufacturing and engineering company WEC Group has started construction on a new state-of-the-art 60,000 sq ft heavy machining and nuclear fabrication facility in Blackburn.
The new development marks a significant milestone in the group’s ongoing expansion strategy. The new division, WEC Heavy Machining and Nuclear Fabrication, is set to become one of the largest subcontract machining facilities in Europe. Located adjacent to the company’s existing WEC Machining facility, as well as the group’s recently inaugurated Apprentice Academy, this new purpose-built development will support the UK’s industrial capabilities in key sectors such as nuclear, defence, offshore, and general engineering.
The facility is expected to create 60 new jobs including 10 additional machining apprentices, further strengthening the skilled workforce trained at WEC’s Apprentice Academy.
WEC Group has started construction on a new £10m facility in Blackburn that will become one of the largest subcontract machining sites in Europe and is set to create 60 new jobs / Picture: WEC Group
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The site will be equipped with six large CNC machining centres, capable of handling components up to 20 meters in length and 5 meters in diameter, significantly expanding the group’s existing capabilities, which already includes three large Correa Axia’s and one Asquith Butler travelling column large milling machines already in place within the group’s existing Blackburn and Darwen facilities.
Steve Fitzpatrick, CEO of machining at WEC Group, said: “Our £10 million investment in WEC Heavy Machining and Nuclear Fabrication underscores our ongoing commitment to adding value to our customers’ supply chains and this consolidates our position as the UK’s number 1 subcontract manufacturing company. With this new facility, we are not only expanding our capacity but also enhancing our overall ability to deliver turnkey solutions for large and oversized projects. The scale and precision of our new equipment are set to transform the subcontracting landscape, offering unparalleled services in the UK.”
Steve Hartley, group managing director at WEC, added: “This expansion is a pivotal part of our strategy to maintain and extend our leadership in the subcontract manufacturing industry. We are proud to invest in not only our company’s future but also in the economic growth of Blackburn and the wider region.”
