Sounding Out Solutions (SOS), which specialises and focuses on turnkey gas detection solutions with over 30 years of experience, has officially merged with Aberdeen-based William Nicol, the family-run trusted leader in transport and industrial services.
This merger now forms the recently established William Nicol Engineering division, significantly expanding the company’s capabilities and allowing it to offer an even broader range of services to its retained and growing client base.
For more than three decades, Sounding Out Solutions has provided high-quality environmental engineering supported by key manufacturers Dräger, GDS Technologies, Riken Keiki and various other manufacturers.
With a robust portfolio of established clients, SOS has consistently delivered innovative, reliable, and tailored solutions, making it a trusted partner to many high-profile organisations that have a focus on keeping their employees and the environment free from harm.
As part of the merger, Sounding Out Solutions founder Nigel Bedford will continue to play a key role in the recently formed division, assuming the position of Gas Detection Engineering Manager responsible for the project management, design, supply, installation, and maintenance of gas detection systems. His extensive experience and deep understanding of engineering and technical solutions will be invaluable as William Nicol Engineering expands its service offerings to support clients in industries including manufacturing, construction, and infrastructure, some of which require adherence to ATEX standard. The team are trained to Compex standard to work in these environments.
Left to right, Nigel Bedford, Gas Detection Engineering Manager of William Nicol – former founder of Sounding Out Solutions, and Darren Nicol, Managing Director of William Nicol.
“We are thrilled to merge with William Nicol,” said Nigel Bedford, Founder of Sounding Out Solutions. “With over 30 years in the industry, Sounding Out Solutions has had the privilege of working with an outstanding group of clients and helping them solve complex engineering challenges. This merger provides a fantastic opportunity to expand our reach and offer our expertise to even more organisations across Scotland. Together, we are poised to offer a wider range of services and continue supporting our clients' success with even greater innovation and efficiency.”
Darren Nicol, Managing Director of William Nicol, emphasised the strategic value of the merger. "Integrating Sounding Out Solutions into the William Nicol family is a key step forward in our clean safe solutions growth strategy to build a group of domain experts with a focus on keeping individuals, organisations, and the environment free from harm. We pride ourselves on a quality service delivery, be it treating and moving waste, cleaning industrial tanks, installing environmental protection systems, or building digital management solutions for our ever-growing portfolio of customers. With Sounding Out Solutions offering, we saw an integrated solution provider that fits with this strategy and truly understands what it means to serve a customer. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do together.”
The new William Nicol Engineering division is poised to lead the industry in providing cutting-edge gas detection engineering solutions. By combining the technical expertise of Sounding Out Solutions with the established 90-year legacy of William Nicol, the company is uniquely positioned to meet the complex demands of an ever-changing market. The merger represents a commitment to continued service excellence, with a focus on delivering reliable, innovative, and cost-effective solutions that drive efficiency and performance.
For more information about the merger and the newly formed William Nicol Engineering division, please visit www.williamnicol.com or contact engineering@williamnicol.com.