Sheet metal for the Defence Industry

Universal Wolf is an established, DIN-certified subcontractor fabricating sheet metal for the defence industry.

Working as a defence subcontractor, we are able to support Primes and Tier 1 contractors with sheet metal fabricated components and mechanical assemblies for applications including:

Land Systems:

Combat vehicles
Armoured military vehicles
Military bridging systems
Munitions stowage
HVAC systems for combat vehicles
Utility vehicles
Converted civilian armoured vehicles
Full width ploughs
Track width ploughs
Surface mine ploughs

Marine Systems:

Marine lockers
Marine weapon handling systems
Marine consoles
Marine coolers and heat exchangers
Non-watertight submarine doors

JOSCAR, Make UK Defence, Cyber Essentials and Armed Forces Covenant logos

Manufacturing sheet metal for the Defence industry

Universal Wolf partners with Defence industry manufacturers to deliver high-quality sheet metal fabricated components.

We meet the stringent quality standards required by the MOD, defence primes and contractors. We are certified to DIN2303 Q2/BK1, ISO9001 and EN3834-2, and hold Cyber Essentials certification.

Universal Wolf is a proud member of Make UK Defence; we are also JOSCAR accredited.

We offer a full sheet metal fabrication service. Processes include laser, punch, forming, welding and fabrication, pre-surface treatment (e.g. blasting) and paint (powder and wet). We have in-house expertise and processes for lead cutting, bonding and assembly, and a full mechanical assembly service.

a group of three Port of Blyth students wearing welding gear, having recently joined Universal Wolf as trainee Sheet Metal Workers

Delivering social value

Social value is a key part of procurement policy in the Defence industry. The Defence Industrial Strategy has at its heart a focus on delivering growth across the UK, with a shift away from global sourcing by default to a strong preference for onshoring defence manufacturing capability. Among its areas of focus are facilitating access to MOD contracts for SMEs, shortening sourcing contracts and processes, and considering the social value demonstrated by suppliers to the Defence sector. This includes considerations such as skills and employment creation.

Creating employment opportunities and upskilling our colleagues are two key elements of who we are as a business.

Creating opportunities

Since 2023, we have partnered with Northumberland Skills and Port of Blyth to deliver our ‘Building Futures: Welding & Fabrication’ course. This is a 6-week intensive course, open to Northumberland residents who are currently unemployed and looking to re-enter the workforce. The course equips learners with foundational skills in welding and fabrication (MIG and TIG welding, and sheet metal fabrication).

Learners who successfully complete the course are offered roles as trainee Sheet Metal Workers at Universal Wolf, and supported through their Level 2 City & Guilds qualification whilst receiving expert training and mentorship from our team of experienced metalworkers.

The course has the dual benefit of supporting the unemployed back into work and bolstering our skilled worker base, at a time when the industry as a whole is grappling with an engineering skills gap.

Upskilling colleagues

As well as supporting people to re-enter the workforce, we also facilitate existing colleagues to grow and develop in their careers through our ‘Grow Our Own’ program, which to date has benefitted over 20% of our colleagues. This initiative supports colleagues to develop new skills and progress in their current role, or to transfer their skills into a different role altogether.