Celebrating 95 Years of John Lawrie Metals

95 years of people, progress and purpose

95 years ago, John Lawrie founded a business in Aberdeen with a simple idea: recover valuable materials, give them a new life, and do the job properly.

What started in 1931 as a local scrap metal business has grown into one of Scotland’s leading metal recycling and decommissioning companies. But while the industry has changed beyond recognition, one thing has never changed, our people.

Every milestone we’ve reached over the past 95 years has been built by generations of hardworking employees. Some families have had more than one generation work at John Lawrie Metals. Many of our team have dedicated decades of their careers to the business, passing on their knowledge, experience and values to those joining today.

That loyalty is something we’re incredibly proud of.

Built on Hard Work
If you ask anyone who works at John Lawrie Metals what makes the business special, they’ll probably tell you the same thing. It’s the people.

Whether it’s the operators in the yard, our drivers, engineers, workshop teams, office staff or project managers, everyone shares the same mentality, work hard, look after each other and get the job done safely.

It’s this approach that has earned the trust of customers for almost a century and allowed the business to grow from local scrap recycling into delivering some of the UK’s most complex industrial recycling and offshore decommissioning projects.

Always Moving Forward
While we’re proud of our history, we’ve never stood still. Over the years we’ve evolved alongside the industries we support, continually investing in our people, equipment, machinery and most importantly, safety.

Today, John Lawrie Metals operates from Aberdeen, Evanton and Shetland, recycling around 200,000 tonnes of metal every year and supporting everyone from local households and tradespeople to major energy operators and industrial businesses across the UK.

From dismantling offshore infrastructure and processing large-scale industrial projects to helping a local electrician recycle copper cable, every job contributes to the same goal, keeping valuable materials in circulation and reducing waste.

A Business with Purpose
Metal recycling isn’t just about processing scrap. It’s about protecting resources, reducing carbon emissions and giving materials a second life. That purpose has become even more important as industries look to reduce their environmental impact and embrace the circular economy.

As part of the ArcelorMittal Group, John Lawrie Metals is helping shape the future of sustainable recycling while continuing to deliver the trusted service the business has been known for since 1931.

Looking Ahead
Celebrating 95 years isn’t just about looking back. It’s about recognising everyone who has helped us get here and looking forward to what’s next.

With exciting investments, expanding operations, new technologies and major projects on the horizon, we’re continuing to build on the foundations laid almost a century ago.

To every employee, past and present, thank you.

To every customer and partner who has trusted us over the years, thank you.

And to the next generation of John Lawrie Metals, here’s to the future.