British Shipbuilder Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
Customer
British shipbuilder and fabricator
Sector
Manufacturing
Location
Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
Solution
Westgate Global designed and installed a two-part fabric partitioning system, including a 30-metre Flexiwall and 15-metre retractable Flexicurtain, for one of the UK’s most iconic shipbuilding companies at their Isle of Lewis facility.
The wind-load-calculated solution segregates the shot-blasting and coating processes, delivering 99% dust containment while maintaining the climate control needed for curing.
One of the UK’s most iconic shipbuilding companies needed to create a protected indoor environment for preparing and coating vessels and structures, with defined segregation between processes. This project was at one of their northernmost sites in the UK, on the picturesque, remote Isle of Lewis.
The blast and coating facility faced the sea, and given the extreme coastal conditions, the goal was to design a partitioning solution that would segregate the shot-blasting process — a common method used to clean or prepare metal surfaces prior to coating — and the painting lines, to ensure no dust transfer or damage to the painted finish on the vessels and structures. With a long-standing reputation for precision engineering, the client required a secure and flexible internal partitioning system for their coating operations.
Despite the logistical complexities of transporting materials to an area as remote as the Isle of Lewis and devising a dust containment system that exceeds other methods in a high-wind environment, Westgate Global’s technical ability, structural knowledge, and experienced installation team were able to support.
To meet their specific needs, Westgate Global designed and installed a two-part partitioning system. A 30-metre long reinforced PVC Flexiwall fabric partition wall that offers 99% dust containment was securely hung and fixed to the facility’s steel floor. To further compartmentalise the space and protect the vessels from shot-blasting operations, a 15-metre-long industrial Flexicurtain was also installed. The Flexiwall was installed in an extremely durable, reinforced material to ensure longevity, given the fact that the wall was being installed near the shot-blasting area.
The Flexiwall acted as a barrier to protect the vessels and structures with wet paint from dust and debris, shot blasting, and potentially even the strong winds and moisture from the nearby sea. The Flexicurtain, supported by its own custom-built steel box frame and wind-load calculations, was incorporated into the Flexiwall partition, allowing the client to move vessels or offshore structures between the two areas for shot blasting and painting with ease.
Both the Flexiwall and Flexicurtain systems can be demounted easily, allowing the client to disassemble the wall should they receive a contract for a particularly large ship requiring more floorspace, then reinstall it afterwards, providing a highly adaptable workspace that maintains protection and safe working conditions without compromising efficiency or safety.
Westgate Global engineered a wind-load-calculated fabric partition wall to provide defined segregation between the shot-blasting and coating processes, preventing contamination from airborne debris while helping maintain the climate and temperature control that aids the coating curing process.
Westgate Global were good to deal with on all aspects of the project and their installation team were very efficient and professional with a high standard of finish in a timely manner.Kevin Murray Project Engineer, Arnish Fabrication Site
Hoardfast 8 August 2026
Flexiscreen 7 August 2026
We’re here to transform your screening, partitioning, hoarding, and protection challenges into effective and compliant solutions. Whether you have a known requirement, need expert advice or a full scale project scoped and delivered, we’re here to help protect your momentum.
