Manufacturing insurance

Manufacturing Insurance

Insurance advice for UK manufacturers, engineering firms, fabricators, processors and product businesses, built around their sites, machinery, people, products and supply chains.

Request a quote 0330 133 4386

Start with the exposure

Understand the exposure before comparing terms.

Manufacturers can combine complex machinery, raw materials, finished stock, hazardous processes, product design, subcontracted work and time-sensitive customer contracts. We map how your operation works from purchasing and production through testing, storage and delivery, then present those details clearly to insurers.

OAK VIEW

A strong manufacturing submission follows the product through the whole operation — from incoming materials and production controls to testing, storage and delivery.

Cover to consider

Built from the risk outwards.

Availability and scope depend on insurer acceptance and the terms offered for your business.

Buildings, plant and machinery

Declared values should reflect the premises, production equipment, tooling, fixtures and specialist machinery that would need to be repaired or replaced after an insured loss.

Raw materials, work in progress and stock

Values can change through the production cycle. Consider materials, components, customer goods in your care, work in progress and finished products at every location.

Products and public liability

Liability cover may respond to eligible allegations of injury or property damage involving products, subject to the activities, territories, limits, exclusions and policy wording.

Employers' liability

Where required, employers' liability should reflect the workforce, duties, machinery, manual handling and processes used across the business.

Business interruption

A property or machinery loss can stop production beyond the repair period. Consider dependencies, replacement lead times, customer contracts and a realistic period to restore turnover.

Machinery breakdown and equipment

Equipment breakdown, inspection, repair and consequential interruption exposures may need specialist consideration alongside property damage cover.

Professional, cyber and motor risks

Design or specification duties, connected production systems, customer data, delivery vehicles and company fleets can create separate risks that should be reviewed together.

Practical buying guidance

Follow the production process from raw material to customer

A fabricator making components to another firm's drawings has a different exposure from a manufacturer that designs and markets a finished product. Explain design responsibility, tolerances, testing, traceability and the industries in which the product is used. Safety-critical end uses and overseas markets can materially affect underwriting.

Identify the machines, utilities and suppliers whose loss would stop production. A breakdown policy and property-damage policy may respond to different events. Interruption cover can depend on the insured cause, an agreed financial basis and the indemnity period; supplier or customer extensions need explicit checking.

Products liability concerns specified injury or damage allegations. It is not the same as paying to replace a defective product, carry out a recall or correct a design. Give Oak contract examples and discuss these exposures separately rather than assuming one label covers all of them.

Compare the wording, not just the premium

Compare breakdown triggers, product and design exclusions, territorial limits, recall arrangements, subcontracted processes and interruption calculations. Check whether defence costs sit inside or outside liability limits.

For more detail, read Manufacturing insurance: a practical guide for UK makers and engineering firms, Motor fleet renewals: a practical checklist for UK businesses and Cyber insurance for growing businesses: what the policy is really there to do.

Common questions

Useful answers before you approach the market.

Can one policy cover our factory and products?+

Some insurers can combine property, interruption and liability sections, but products, processes, locations and turnover must be described accurately. The policy schedule and wording still determine what is covered.

What should we include in our stock values?+

Prepare values for raw materials, components, work in progress and finished stock, including seasonal peaks and goods held at other locations or by third parties.

Does product liability automatically cover a product recall?+

No. Product liability and product recall are different exposures. Any recall cover, trigger, limit, territory and exclusion must be confirmed in the specific wording.

What if we design or modify products?+

Describe design, specification, testing, installation and any changes made to customer products. Professional indemnity or specialist extensions may need consideration.

How early should we start a complex renewal?+

Starting several weeks before renewal gives time to gather valuations, claims information, machinery schedules, contracts and updated process details before insurers are approached.

Speak directly to Oak

Talk to Oak about manufacturing insurance.

Tell us what you do, what needs protecting and when the policy renews. We'll take it from there.

Start an enquiry 0330 133 4386