MULGRAVE: A respected name in metal fabrication for over half a century, Mulgrave Machine Works is entering a new chapter under the ownership of Phil Duncan, who took over the business in November.
The company, established in 1969, has built a reputation for delivering high-quality fabrication and custom metal manufacturing services to clients locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Its offerings span a wide range of industries, including onshore and offshore oil and gas, light and heavy industrial, and marine sectors.
As of the end of July, Duncan will have been at the helm for eight months. He said he’s proud to continue serving clients throughout the Strait Area and beyond, while actively pursuing opportunities to expand the company’s capabilities.
“The long-term goal for me was to own a construction company, but the centre piece of that comes with fabrication, manufacturing, land and equipment. So that you can support the construction activities you want to do in the field,” Duncan said. “It was always a goal to get an operation like this, so we could potentially look at starting a construction firm.”
Mulgrave Machine Works specializes in working with carbon steel, stainless steel, and more exotic materials such as titanium. The company fabricates structural steel, piping systems, pressure vessels, and performs both in-shop and on-site work for a variety of projects.
When Duncan learned the business was for sale, the opportunity was too good to pass up.
“It was kind of perfect,” he said. “It’s rural which means you’ll find more value, and it’s a well-established company with a good name. Another thing is some of the speciality work the company did, presented a really unique opportunity in terms of manufacturing in the province from a rural standpoint.”
With a strong foundation in place, Duncan said the business offers more than a base for construction operations – he sees significant potential for growth in manufacturing.
“So, I saw a lot of opportunities on that side of the business as well.”
By the 1970s, Mulgrave Machine Works had solidified its status as a leading metal fabrication facility in Atlantic Canada. Duncan said he’s committed to honouring that legacy while helping the company evolve to meet modern industry demands.
“We’re doing a lot of new fabrications on pressure vessels,” he explained. “Along with doing repairs to equipment in the field, and smaller structural steel structures like stairs and framing pieces.”
The company currently employs between 25 and 30 skilled tradespeople, including welders, fitters, machinists, and millwrights – many of whom remained with the company through the ownership transition.
Mulgrave Machine Works also has the capacity to fabricate small buildings and associated structural components. Looking ahead, Duncan said the team is assessing the feasibility of launching a full-scale steel production line, depending on market demand and investment readiness.
Duncan, who also operates an HVAC company, said owning a fabrication facility allows him to manufacture parts in-house that were previously sourced from the United States. This integration not only streamlines operations across his businesses but also enhances product quality and value for clients.
“Rather than ordering a carbon steel material, we’ve been making them out of stainless steel here and they hold up better in the environment,” Duncan said. “So, it gives us the ability to offer a substantially better product to the end user and the clients in other businesses, without having to charge extra money.”
He added that all existing Mulgrave Machine Works clients continued their relationship with the company after the acquisition, and he has made a point of meeting many of them – along with residents in the community. He expressed gratitude to the previous owners for building a company with such a strong foundation.
“I have a lot of respect and admiration for the previous owners,” he said. “They built a great business and a great reputation.”
Looking to the future, Duncan is focused on building on that reputation rather than overhauling it.
“One of the things I put a lot of emphasis on is: that if you’re buying an established business, you don’t come in and tear it apart and act like you’re going to do it better,” Duncan said. “It doesn’t work that way.”
“So, the value that Mulgrave Machine Works has always offered to their clients – being local, responsive and flexible – all that stayed in place.”