Made In Scotland

You would be forgiven for thinking that all Scottish manufacturing has to offer these days, are kilts, cashmere, and whisky. However, from gaskets to first class plane seats, we’ve come to discover there is so much more. Here are some of the things that we’ve come across that are Made in Scotland today.

We built Make Works to make it easier for artists, designers and makers to get their own work and projects into production using Scottish manufacturing. In visiting over 130 factories, fabricators, makers, material suppliers and open access workshops to grow the list of Scottish factories for the Make Works platform, we’ve also learned about what is actually being manufactured in Scotland.

Scotland was once one of the industrial powerhouses of Europe, and still has a strong manufacturing legacy in several trades including textiles, transport, electronics and food production.

Here are some of the things that we’ve seen being made in Scotland on our factory finding wanderings.

1. Hi Fi’s

Linn is a world-renowned engineering company, manufacturing Hi-Fi and audio equipment. Linn was originally based in the suburb of Linn in South Glasgow, and is now based in their Richard Rogers designed facility just outside Glasgow in East Kilbride. All Linn products are designed and manufactured at their Glasgow facility, and the attention to detail is impeccable. On each circuit board for example, you can find out who assembled your hi-fi - and continue returning to them as you upgrade over the years. You can arrange visits to the factory, and listen to vinyl’s played through their Linn home. We would certainly recommend you make the trip.

2. PolyTi aka Velcro

PolyTi is a type of velcro which is made by Scott and Fyfe in Tayport, Fife. The hook and loop fabric can be made with bespoke branding, or to custom size. Scott and Fyfe are a manufacturer of technical textiles for current and future markets, including composites, flooring and abrasives. Their work spans a number of industries, and you’d be surprised where it ends up. When we visited, we were amazed to see glass fibre being woven into huge sheets, just as you would in a traditional mill. See Scott and Fyfe on Make Works here.

3. Exhibition Displays

The exhibition display cabinets manufactured by Click Netherfield of Livingston go on to house some of the most prestigious art pieces. Click Netherfield has an impressive client list including museums and galleries in America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. This exhibition display cabinet was produced for the furniture gallery at the Victoria and Albert museum in London. For exhibition lighting, you might want to take a look

4. GORE-TEX

GORE-TEX is the technical fabric famous for keeping the rain out whilst allowing sweat to escape that has taken the outdoors industry by storm.

Founder of Gore & Associates, Bill Gore, opened the Livingston manufacturing base in 1984. The work done at this factory involves the processing of the material to ensure that it has all the properties associated with the GORE-TEX material. Bill Gore is well known for his love of developing science-based innovation by working in small collaborative groups. The company is set up as a co-operative, and is often lauded for extremely high employee satisfaction.

5. Airplane Seats

If you happen to find yourself on a British Airways flight, take a minute to consider that the fine leather covering the seats have come from an east end Glasgow tannery. Hidden away, where you might walk past if you didn’t know it was there, Muirheads make bespoke hides for some of the world-leading transportation systems. You’ll also find them on the seats of Emirates airlines and Virgin. See Andrew Muirhead on Make Works here. Read more about Andrew Muirhead’s skilled team, in our article Anne McKenzie: Part of Glasgow’s East End’s Fabric

6. Watches

Although the watch-making industry in Scotland has all but disappeared, there has been a recent addition to the watchmakers roster in the appearance of Paulin – A Glasgow-based watch maker aiming to bring the manufacturing of affordable, high quality watches back to Britain. 

7. Barbour Jackets

Although Barbour jackets themselves (well most of them) are still made in in North East England near Newcastle, the famous wax cotton hails from Halley Stevensons in Scotland. Halley Stevensons are a garment finishing company specialising in waxed cotton and the production of bespoke performance fabrics based in Dundee. You’ll also find their fabric in the products of Ralph Lauren, Saddleback Leather and Brooks Brothers. See Halley Stevensons on Make Works here.

8. Gaskets

We might not be leading the shipbuilding trade these days, but we still make the gaskets. Gaskets are mechanical seals that are usually made out of a flat material like rubber, paper, cork, neoprene or silicone. These are used prolifically in piping and are used in ships and planes all over the world. Think of it as pattern cutting for rubber.  William Johnstons Ltd. is a gasket and seal manufacturer based in Glasgow.

 9. Train Crossings 

Train Crossings make up a crucial part of the public transport infrastructure winding it’s way around the country. These crossings are made out of Cast Manganese and are made in Scotland. Progress Rail services, based in South Queensferry, is the UK arm of the US based business which manufactures a range of products for the railway industry. The South Queensferry Foundry is a world-class production facility, producing components that go on to be used in railways all over the world - such as the famous US ‘Double Star’. They also make the bollards you see scattered across London. 

10. Laboratory Glassware

Aberdeen-based AM Glassware is a glass manufacturing company specialising in laboratory equipment. In addition to their glassware range destined for hospitals and science departments they also offer a bespoke glassware service manufacturing small quantities and one offs.

Read our tips for manufacturing in Scotland