Exploring New Opportunities for Welsh Manufacturers in the Defence Sector
Global semiconductor leader KLA Corporation has officially opened a new $138 million (£110 million) research, development, and manufacturing centre in Newport, South Wales , marking a major milestone for the region’s growing role in the global semiconductor supply chain. The new 237,000-square-foot facility expands KLA’s presence in Wales through its local product division, SPTS Technologies , which has been pioneering semiconductor equipment innovation in the country since 1984. SPTS has previously received multiple Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in both R&D and export, and continues to attract world-class technical talent to the region.
Llanelli-based steel fabrication company, Shufflebottom Limited, took centre stage at a recent event in the Senedd, where industry leaders, apprentices, and policymakers gathered to celebrate the heritage and future of the Welsh steel sector.  The event, hosted by the British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA), reinforced the industry’s deep-rooted importance to Welsh communities and the economy, while also highlighting the opportunities ahead for a greener, more sustainable future. The event also discussed the steelwork industry, which is worth approximately £1.6 billion per year and employs around 60,000 people in the UK
Shufflebottom #womanofsteel MD Alex Shufflebottom celebrates a major milestone Friday, 6th June 2025 marks a very special and significant milestone in the ongoing Shufflebottom story. On this day twenty-five years ago, Managing Director, Alex Shufflebottom, started permanent employment at Shufflebottom and so on this silver anniversary, it’s an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on just how much has happened at Shufflebottom in those intervening years.
Shufflebottom is proud to announce that it is continuing its already successful relationship with Bouygues UK. Bouygues UK is the lead contractor on a ground-breaking development in Carmarthen town centre that will see the old retail store of Debenhams transformed into a state-of-the-art health, wellbeing, educational and leisure hub that will include a high-spec family entertainment centre.
Cardiff based fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium is supporting the redevelopment of Portfield School in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Portfield School is a special educational needs school for students aged between three and nineteen in the county with a diverse range of complex and profound learning needs.
Founded over three years ago by manufacturers, Manufacturing Wales is an independent, industry-led network that champions the vision and ambitions of manufacturers and academia across Wales. As a collaborative consortium, it was established to address the complex needs of Welsh-based manufacturers, promote world-class capabilities, elevate Welsh brands, maximise supply chain opportunities, and enhance resilience by connecting with higher and further academic institutions. It has become an essential sector focussed platform for manufacturers and educational institutions to connect, share challenges, and develop solutions. With a strong emphasis on quality, Manufacturing Wales ensures Welsh brands achieve global recognition, are driven by technology, and develop new supply chain ecosystems. It also serves as a voice for the industry, fostering sharing, learning, and collaboration. Manufacturing Wales is excited to announce the addition of Alex Shufflebottom to its Board. Alex will join existing board members from British Rototherm, Creo Medical, IQE, Philtronics, Penderyn Distillery, Pro Steel Engineering, The Safety Letterbox Company Ltd, and SPTS (a KLA company). The Board is chaired by Frank Holmes of Gambit Corporate Finance.
In 2023, the Federation of Small Businesses in Wales (FSB) embarked on throwing a sharper focus on the manufacturing sector. This resulted in their comprehensive report titled Manufacturing Momentum. This document reviewed the evolving landscape confronting the Welsh Manufacturing sector, offering a roadmap for adaptation and growth. In response, Manufacturing Wales, the authoritative voice of the industry, asked its members to scrutinise the report's recommendations. What emerged was a range of insights, underscoring both the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Welsh manufacturing.
Secure Information Box (SIB): Helping save lives and property whilst building a safer future. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and Dame Judith Hackitt’s subsequent report, a significant transformation has taken place in the law surrounding building safety across the UK. The Safety Letterbox Company has recently launched an important tested and certified high security product which could help ensure the safety of residents in an emergency.
In the ever-evolving landscape of manufacturing, staying competitive demands more than just staying afloat—it requires a commitment to continuous improvement and a willingness to embrace change. Recently, the Caerphilly Business Club, in collaboration with Manufacturing Wales and the Institute of Export, held an event aimed at bolstering the Manufacturing sector.
Dudley's Aluminium, a leading Welsh fabricator, has secured another key project in Cardiff’s city centre, working on the multistorey car park in Central Quay. Working with Goldbeck Construction, for Rightacres Property and Network Rail, Dudley’s will be installing curtain walling and doors on the build of the car park in the centre of Cardiff, as part of the Central Quay project which also features residential, office, leisure and retail opportunities.
Welsh fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium has secured a new project for a joint education campus in Fairwater. Dudley’s is working in collaboration with ISG Construction Ltd on the multimillion-pound project which will facilitate the construction of three new build schools for Cantonian High School, Riverbank School and Woodlands High School, all situated on a single site. The development will be Net Zero Carbon in line with Welsh Government standards and will set the standard for future Cardiff school projects. Each of the three schools will be highly energy efficient buildings powered by renewable energy sources.
