A major milestone in the development of Europe’s largest subcontract heavy machining and nuclear fabrication site
We’re continuing to make significant progress on £10 million investment to develop Europe’s largest subcontract heavy machining and nuclear fabrication facility in Blackburn. This landmark project represents a major step forward in strengthening our advanced manufacturing capabilities and supporting the future needs of the UK’s heavy engineering and nuclear sectors.
A major milestone has now been achieved within phase 1 of the build, with the first Correa Fox M machining centre successfully installed and fully operational. The commissioning of this machine marks an important transition from construction to live production capability. The second machine (Correa Axia with a 20t rotary table) is currently being installed, and our apprentices have even been assisting with the welding. The Correa Axia will be operational by the end of March 2026.
Once complete, the WEC Heavy Machining and Nuclear Fabrication facility will house six large CNC machining centres, designed to handle components up to 30 metres in length. This will significantly expand our existing machining capacity and technical offering, enabling the production of large, complex and high-integrity components for demanding industrial applications.
This investment builds on our established expertise in large-scale machining. We already operate three large Correa Axias machines alongside an Asquith Butler travelling column large milling machine at our existing Blackburn and Darwen facilities. The new site will consolidate and enhance these capabilities, positioning WEC Group as a leading subcontract partner for heavy machining and nuclear fabrication projects across the UK and Europe.
Our new development is also set to deliver great employment opportunities for the local area of Lancashire. In total, the new facility is forecast to create 60 new jobs, ranging from skilled machinists and fabricators to other support roles. Our recruitment activity is already underway, with interviews having commenced for several positions as the project progresses.
Throughout the build, we’ve been sharing regular progress updates and behind-the-scenes images across our social media channels, offering insight into the scale of the investment and the transformation taking place on site. Follow us on Linkedin below for progress photos, or search @wecgroupltd on Tiktok to see videos of inside the new build, as well as apprentices welding the structural beams together:
Follow WEC Group on LinkedIn
Within phase 2 of the build, the project continues to move forward at pace. The walls and roof are now fully in place, and the team is currently focused on levelling the flooring in preparation for the next stages of installation and fit-out. This progress keeps the project firmly on track and reinforces our long-term commitment to advanced manufacturing investment in the UK.