We are turning 40 years old!
We are turning 40 years old!
In 1983 at just 18 years old, Stewart Graham founded ‘Island Fabrications’, and set up a one-man creel manufacturing and steel fabrication business in Stornoway in the Hebrides, Scotland, working out of a 500-square-foot unit.
Since then, the company has opened a 6,500-square-foot factory in Stornoway, rebranded to Gael Force, expanded its workforce and markets, acquired multiple companies, opened the UK’s largest one-stop shop for marine equipment in Inverness, and expanded further internationally.
Now in 2023, we’re delighted to be celebrating our 40th anniversary and everything that has been achieved in that time. Join us as we take a walk down memory lane, sharing highlights from over the years on our social media channels including some amusing photographs from the early days.
Here's some more news from Gael Force this month!
Stewart Graham joins panel in Entrepreneurial Masterclass
Featuring Gael Force founder and Managing Director Stewart Graham, Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, Skye Connect and Inverness Chamber of Commerce combine to bring you an exciting opportunity allowing you to listen and interact with local entrepreneurs in an Entrepreneurial Masterclass.
The event will feature a one-hour keynote by serial entrepreneur Angus MacDonald, followed by a chaired panel discussion with leading local business people, including Stewart.
Celebrating our colleagues successes
We are pleased to congratulate our colleague, Matt Orton, on his move from Barge and Pontoon Product Manager to Field Service and Support Manager here at Gael Force.
Matt will be responsible for supporting our Field Service Engineers and customers with the installation, service, and maintenance of equipment in the Aquaculture industry and other marine industries.
You might see his face out and about on site so say hello if you see him!
Fond Farewells
We recently said fond farewells to two Gael Force legends, Mechanical Foreman Stevie Mackay, and Chargehand Miro Buchert, who both retired after 30 years of combined service.
Following more than 18 years of dedication Stevie hung up his overalls. He was a hugely important part of the Engineering team, working on a vast amount of the feeding barges and systems that have departed from our quayside in Inverness over the years. And, our ‘Concrete Champion’, Miro, retired after 12 years of service with Gael Force. Miro has been involved in the building of over 30 barges during his time with us.
Szczęśliwej Emerytury, Miro! Happy Retirement, Stevie!
Supporting our customers with netting supply
We were delighted to successfully supply an order for nets to a fish farm in Argyll. Through our partnership with FISA, we specified the Supra HDPE for this farm - a braided knotted net produced with third-generation high-density polyethylene.
It's a high-quality, robust predator net solution and one that we are very proud to offer in Scotland. In 2023 and beyond we aim to make further inroads to this market with an excellent net offering.