Rail Supply Chain Levelling Up – Universal Wolf Ready to Play its Part

The Importance of Localising Manufacturing in Rail

With multiple live rail projects underway across the UK, from HS2 to commuter, to light rail and underground, it is now more important than ever to increase onshoring manufacturing efforts, to maximize UK supply chain social value, reduce risk and physically shorten the supply chain. Through simplifying & shortening parts of the supply chain, it will create a naturally sustainable by-product, with a reduction in emissions and carbon footprints.   

Here at Universal Wolf as part of our long-term commitment to the UK rail sector, we hold key qualifications, including EN15085-2 for rail welding.  This means we can manufacture safety and quality critical components to rolling stock OEM’s and their whole supply chain. This qualification is demonstration of the skill of our highly trained Wolf Pack – and means that we are ready to support these critical UK projects.    

50 Year Heritage in the North East of England

It is key that businesses such as Universal Wolf, who have over a 50-year heritage in the North East of England, can support the government’s Levelling Up agenda to increase UK skilled jobs and continue to create a wealth of experience in the welding and fabrication of components for the rail sector.  Some of our past projects include:

• Turbo Power Systems:  HVAC under carriage enclosures, Toronto Rocket inverter covers, laptop inverters and low voltage power supply enclosures. 
• Petards Group:  On board messaging (next train), digital video recorders, security camera housings.  End clients included Virgin and Bombardier. 
• Unipart Rail:  Platform infrastructure, including clocks and electronic message boards. 
• Wabtec Corporation:  Water tanks, train panels and doors, including manufacture and refurbishment. 
• BMAC: Headlights. 
• Infotec:  Passenger information displays.  

Rail Leadership 

As Managing Director of Universal Wolf, Tim Rutter, former Plant Manager at Hitachi Rail in Newton Aycliffe (NAY),  brings a wealth of rail experience, including overseeing enterprise-wide data digitalisation that enabled Hitachi Rail to gain significant improvements in delivery output rate, thereby increasing efficiency and productivity. 

Now more than ever, we see customers who need dependable access to a stable UK metal fabrication supply chain, who can successfully partner to deliver key projects.  It is an exciting future ahead in UK Rail, and here at Universal Wolf, we are ready to play our part. 

About Universal Wolf: www.universalwolf.com