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Serimax Invest £5 Million in Latest Welding Technologies

Serimax, a 100% subsidiary of Vallourec, has invested £5 million in new equipment which will be rolled out to its worldwide operations, including its UK base in Evanton near Dingwall.

The expenditure on the latest welding technology and processes consolidates Serimax’s position as a world leader in automated and high production welding systems.

The Scottish operation of Paris-headquartered Serimax is expected to contribute an estimated £20 million in 2011 to a forecast group turnover of approximately £135 million and has secured a number of key contracts with leading oil and gas service companies.

Serimax employs more than 260 staff at its fabrication facility in Evanton and the neighbouring Technip spoolbase on the Cromarty Firth. The company is also relocating to larger Aberdeen offices and will recruit extra staff as it diversifies into new markets in the UKCS and abroad.

Serimax group vice president, Kenny Coutts, said: “Investing in the latest technology and focussing on innovation is a core driver at each of our six global technology centres. This investment at Evanton cements our reputation for deploying next-generation welding processes and ensures we can meet the challenges our clients face worldwide with our parent company Vallourec.”

The company provides welding expertise and project management for land and marine pipelines, spoolbases and offshore fabrication in the oil, gas, water and petrochemical industries.

While the bulk of Serimax’s UK business relates to spool base services, a drive is underway to diversify, with a focus on extending its fabrication offering in Evanton.

Mr Coutts added: “We recently secured a number of fabrication contracts and this has increased our determination to gain a bigger share of the fabrication market internationally as well as in our own North Sea core business.

“We employ more highly skilled welding engineers than any other pipeline welding company and are capable of working on the most complex and diverse welding projects.

“Our network of regional offices means we can support clients more efficiently and that is why we are investing in a larger Aberdeen office which complements the Evanton facility.

“With 800 employees, including 450 field staff, we can mobilise rapidly for projects in any location and the benefit of being a multi-national group means we can minimise risk on major pipeline projects.”

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