Mechanical engineering company, EnerMech, has launched a new business division which will target the valve supply, testing, inspection and maintenance sector.

An initial £2 million investment will include the building of an additional workshop at the Aberdeen company’s headquarters specifically dealing with valve care, with similar facilities added to EnerMech’s existing operations in UAE, Singapore, Baku and Perth, Australia.

The new division will create 20 jobs in the UK, Middle East and Asia within the first year and it’s envisaged within three years will employ 80 staff across EnerMech’s international operations. EnerMech will focus strongly on the upstream oil and gas sector market and will target tier one engineering contractors, major oil and gas operators, and drilling contractors which have choke valve requirements.

Tim Milne, who has more than 25 years experience of the pipeline and process valve industry, has joined EnerMech as Business Development Manager in charge of the new division. He was previously managing director of PipeQuip International and held senior positions with HS Pipequipment and FMC Corporation.

EnerMech believes there is a significant market demand for a better quality of service, backed up by strong engineering and technical abilities, both in the supply of valves and in the repair and maintenance.

Formed in 2008, EnerMech provide mechanical engineering services for cranes, lifting and hydraulic equipment, along with equipment rental and supplying training and personnel to the energy industry.

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Managing director, Doug Duguid, said the addition of the valve division was always part of the company’s business plan and it would prove an excellent fit with its existing business lines.

He said: “Our view is the customer is looking for better service quality, responsiveness, a shorter delivery period and an enhanced technical back up and we have formed this new valve supply and care division because we believe we can deliver all of those requirements.

“Through our existing business lines we already have the physical and organisational infrastructure to offer customers a more cost effective service and we have an extensive geographic footprint which other companies in the valve supply and service market lack.”

Negotiations are underway in Europe and Asia with four leading valve suppliers to form distributorship alliances and EnerMech is already in discussion with one of its existing clients for a valve supply contract.

EnerMech’s strategy encompasses the supply of new manufactured valves for the oil & gas process industry and petrochemical industry; the supply of pipeline valves for both topside and subsea installation; the supply of API valves and pressure control equipment for the exploration & drilling industry and wellhead control; valve inspection and repair services with experienced technicians and re-certification and pressure testing capabilities. EnerMech’s UK valve repair and testing workshop will be completed in December 2010.

Mr Duguid added: “I am delighted to welcome Tim Milne to the EnerMech stable and he brings not only a great deal of experience in running a valve business but also an extensive network of contacts, both on the manufacturer and customer side. We will shortly announce the appointment of senior personnel with extensive experience of the inspection and repair side of the business and we are in advance negotiations to secure a number of strategic partnerships with several major valve manufacturers.”

Tim Milne added: “We believe adding valve automation and control gives an important new dimension to our service capability, which includes pneumatic, hydraulic and electric actuation and testing.

“With the acquisition of Norson Power, we now have the experience in design, engineering and constructing of associated monitoring and control systems/panels as well as the supply of subsea valves/actuators with hydraulic engineering and design expertise. By being able to offer all the various disciplines in-house, EnerMech will provide a technically approved and cost effective product to the client.”

(GK/KMcA)