About Allenwest

Allenwest have been powering hazardous environments for over a century. We are known throughout the world for the quality of our electrical equipment.

For more than a century, Allenwest has been committed to delivering safe, reliable and high‑performance power solutions that help customers operate with confidence. Our story began in 1918 with the founding of WECOL by William M. Ritchie, and today Allenwest continues that legacy as a trusted partner in the design and manufacture of flameproof switchgear and control systems.

Across Europe, India, Turkey, Asia, and Africa, thousands of Allenwest installations continue to serve critical industries, many still operating at exceptional performance decades later. This long‑standing track record means our customers rely on us not just for engineered products, but for the reassurance that their operations remain safe, compliant and efficient.

What truly defines Allenwest is our engineering expertise and customer-first approach. We work closely with clients to solve modern power and safety challenges, ensuring long-term sustainability, robust performance, and full lifecycle support.

As an innovative and growing Scottish-based manufacturer, Allenwest, who are part of the iDESO Group, delivers the products, services, and technical knowledge required to support customers in today’s demanding global marketplace.

1918

Formed in 1918 by Mr William M Richie, Wallacetown Engineering Company Ltd (WECOL)was established to supply and service et he local British mining industry

1920’s

Early in the 1920’s Wallacetown began to develop electrical distribution equipment for use in coal mines and became significantly involved in the development of flameproof and intrinsically safe switchgear.

1930’s

With a growing interest in expanding its capabilities the business launched a range of certified flameproof switchgear which also saw them export into key international markets such as Chile.

1940’s

As the sirens of war rajng out across the world, Allenwest Wallacetown supported the war effort with accounts ranging from peroiscopes for the navy to shell castings. The end of the 40’s saw a renewed demand from the new nationalized coal mining industry resulting in increased production requirements.

1950’s

Product development became a cornerstone for the business, with a series of industry firsts showcasing both ingenuity and craftmanship. The 1950’s saw the business launch a range of industrial switchgear swiftly followed by the introduction of the NCB gate end boxes.

1960’s

To meet the growing demands of the British Coal industry and to continue its efforts in diversification, Wallacetown built a new factory in Heathfield. The international demand for their high quality industrial motor control and fuse switchgear continued to build with export expanding to Chile and Russia in the early 60’s. Acquired Grampain Holdin’s, Established Wallacetown Engineering and Established Wallacetown Control Systems.

1970’s

In 1975 =, Wallacetown was acquired by a joint venture between Tube Investments and GE to become Wallacetown Division on Simplex-GE Ltd. Under this new ownership, many of the Wallacetown companies were merged, divested, closed or subject to product rationalization. It was this time that Wallacetown Division lost its industrial control and fuse switchgear to Allenwest Electrical.

1980’s

By 1980, Tube investments is bought out by GE and the business procedures its first microprocessor controlled gate end box incorporating advanced control and protection systems, diagnostics and transmission. This was a true demonstration of the companies ability to solve challenges within the global mining market. December 1984 saw the company separate from GE to become Simplex Electrical. Further re-organization in the group in 1988 resulted in the company changing its name to Allenwest Electrical Ltd.

1990’s

A seriesd of additional mergers, divestments and re-brands saw only 2 divisions remain, Ayr and Brighton. On the eve of the 21st century the management team bought out the Scottish element of Allenwest electrical, resulting in the creation of Allenwest Wallacetown Limited. The business moved from Ayr to Irvvine and focused on the development and manufacture of control systems and flameproof switchgear. Shortly after the move to Irvine , the Ayr site was officially closed.

2000’s

With the dawn of a new century and business name, the business introduced the load Centre and Power Centre Mining technology. This was the seed technology which saw Allenwest Wallacetown soon connect Loadcentres directly to power transformers. Soon thereafter, the business installed a 4.5MvA air cooled transformer at Dawmill Collliery, the largest underground mine at the time. In 2007, Allenwets Wallacetown was acquired by an Australian company, Ampcontrol. Ampcontrol was known as the leader in the supply of electrical power systems for the Australian coal mining industry, with a strong electronics product portfolio.

2010’s

In 2018 the business moved to new premises in the heart of its origins in Ayrshire – ready for new challenges and the next 100 years.

2020’s

In April 2021, Allenwest Amp Control UK was acquired by the Longacre Group and is now known as Allenwest Limited. Allenwest becomes part of the iDESo Group of companies  the leading specialist in the manufacture of electrical switchgear.

About Facilities

Established in 1918, Allenwest is a multi-discipline engineering and manufacturing business located in Scotland, Ayrshire. From our Manufacturing Facility in Prestwick, Allenwest provides a range of electrical switchgear for use in critical infrastructure including mining, tunnelling and industrial applications.

Our engineering intelligence is coupled with market understanding to develop the next generation of products such as the AUK1000, an advanced technology base for UK’s power distribution solutions. Celebrating 100 years of operation in 2018, Allenwest products are distinguished across the globe for their robust design and reliability.

How we work

At Allenwest, we engineer high‑quality, certified solutions designed to perform in the most challenging environments. Our teams specialise in the design, manufacture, and installation of reliable switchgear and custom-engineered systems for mining, tunnelling, utilities, and wider industrial sectors.

From component‑level engineering to fully bespoke systems and turnkey project delivery, we provide end‑to‑end support tailored to your operational needs. Our solutions integrate seamlessly with leading industry technologies, ensuring smooth installation, reduced downtime, and long‑term performance you can depend on.

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