Top 10 Best Metalworks Companies in Shetland Islands

Metalworking at the Heart of Island Industry

Steel and aluminium are everywhere in the Shetland Islands, from fishing vessel hulls and aquaculture feed barges to harbour infrastructure, offshore equipment and agricultural buildings. Constant exposure to saltwater and extreme weather means metal structures need regular repair, maintenance and replacement. Skilled metalworkers and fabricators are among the most important tradespeople on the islands.

Shetland has a strong tradition of marine engineering, built over generations of fishing and boatbuilding and later expanded by the oil industry. Today island firms work alongside specialist companies from mainland Scotland and Orkney to deliver everything from small welding repairs to major fabrication projects. Here are ten of the most respected metalworks companies serving Shetland.

How This List Was Compiled

We assessed each company's relevance to Shetland industries, fabrication and repair capabilities, quality and safety record, experience in marine environments and ability to respond quickly to island customers.

The Top 10 Metalworks Companies in Shetland Islands

1. Malakoff

Malakoff is one of Shetland's best-known marine engineering firms. From its Lerwick base it offers steel and aluminium fabrication, ship repair, slipway services and engineering for the fishing, aquaculture and energy sectors. Its ability to handle urgent repairs locally saves vessel owners valuable time at sea.

2. Ocean Kinetics

Ocean Kinetics provides fabrication, welding, machining and commercial diving services. Its combination of workshop and underwater capabilities makes it a versatile partner for aquaculture sites, harbours and marine infrastructure across the islands.

3. Peterson

Peterson's Lerwick base supports offshore and marine clients with quayside services, equipment handling and engineering support. Its facilities play a key role in projects that involve heavy steel equipment arriving from or departing for offshore installations.

4. Gael Force Group

Gael Force Group is a Scottish company that designs and manufactures aquaculture equipment, including steel feed systems, moorings and pens. Its products are used widely by salmon farms operating in Shetland's sheltered voes.

5. Global Energy Group

Global Energy Group operates major fabrication and port facilities in northern Scotland. Its large-scale steel fabrication and decommissioning expertise supports energy projects across the North Sea, including those linked to Shetland.

6. Score Group

Score Group, based in Peterhead, specialises in valve engineering, repair and fabrication for the energy, marine and utilities sectors. Its technical services support operators working in the waters around Shetland.

7. Balmoral Group

Balmoral Group manufactures steel tanks, subsea buoyancy and engineered products. Its steel water storage tanks and industrial solutions are used on projects across rural Scotland, including island communities.

8. Leask Marine

Based in Orkney, Leask Marine provides marine contracting, mooring installation and engineering services across the Northern Isles. Its workboats and fabrication expertise support aquaculture, renewables and harbour projects in Shetland.

9. Briggs Marine

Briggs Marine offers marine contracting, navigation aid maintenance and fabrication services. Its work on buoys, moorings and marine infrastructure supports safe navigation around Scotland's coasts.

10. Shetland's Independent Fabricators and Blacksmiths

Shetland also has a network of smaller workshops, agricultural engineers and blacksmiths producing gates, railings, trailers and bespoke metalwork. These local craftspeople keep crofts, homes and small businesses supplied with practical, hard-wearing metal products made for island conditions.

Corrosion: The Constant Challenge

In Shetland, corrosion is unavoidable. Salt spray and wet weather attack steel quickly, so metalworkers must use marine-grade materials, hot-dip galvanising, stainless steel and high-performance coatings. Regular inspection and maintenance programmes are essential for vessels, aquaculture equipment and harbour structures. Companies with deep marine experience understand how to design and fabricate for longevity in these conditions.

Industry Trends

• Decommissioning work: Dismantling offshore structures creates demand for cutting, recycling and steel handling expertise.
• Renewable energy fabrication: Wind and tidal projects require foundations, towers and support structures.
• Aquaculture investment: Larger, more robust fish farm equipment is driving steel fabrication demand.
• Aluminium vessels: Lightweight aluminium workboats are increasingly popular for aquaculture and marine services.
• Skills development: Apprenticeships and training help maintain a skilled welding and fabrication workforce.

Choosing a Metalworks Partner

Look for certified welders, relevant quality accreditations and proven experience with marine and coastal projects. Response time is critical in Shetland, where equipment failures can halt fishing trips or aquaculture operations. Combining local firms for quick repairs with larger mainland specialists for major fabrication often gives the best results.

The Value of Local Repair Capability

Every hour a fishing vessel spends tied up waiting for repairs is lost income, and an aquaculture site with damaged moorings can put fish stocks at risk. Fast, skilled local metalworking is therefore far more than a convenience in Shetland. It is a form of economic insurance. Workshops in Lerwick, Scalloway and other harbours can often weld a cracked bracket, fabricate a replacement part or repair a winch frame within a day. Sending the same job to the mainland could take a week or more. Keeping these skills on the islands protects the productivity of Shetland's most important industries.

Conclusion

Metalworking keeps the Shetland Islands' most important industries afloat, literally and figuratively. From Lerwick's marine engineers to specialist fabricators across northern Scotland, the ten companies on this list deliver the skills and capacity that island businesses depend on. Their expertise in building durable, corrosion-resistant structures ensures Shetland's vessels, farms and infrastructure keep working in the toughest conditions.