º£½ÇÊÓÆµ

Oops.

Our website is temporarily unavailable in your location.

We are working hard to get it back online.

PRIVACY
Manufacturing

FES International hunts for fourth base on back of record £26m order book

The business, which is marking 25 years of trading, says investment in R&D is now leading to more global contract wins

Rob Anderson and Ian Latimer of FES International(Image: FES International)

North East offshore specialist FES International is on the hunt for a fourth site as it looks to take advantage of increasing demand for its services.

The Ashington-based business designs, manufacturers and supplies fluid transfer systems from its North Seaton Industrial Estate base. The company was started as a two-man team by Rob Anderson and technical director Ian Latimer 25 years ago with first year turnover of £143,000, and has since grown a list of global oil and gas clients, as well as a growing list of renewables customers.

Three years after acquiring space on the Jubilee Industrial Estate which more than doubled the company’s footprint, while also adding a new division, managing director Mr Anderson said the firm has expanded into a third site close to its Ashington plant, and that the company is now viewing locations for a fourth potential site.

Read more: Brickwork Direct builds up £10m of projects in six weeks

The expansion comes on the back of growing buoyancy in the recovering oil and gas sector, as well as boom times in the renewables market, which have contract wins in markets all over the world. It also coincides with the company totting up a record forward order book in excess of £26m as it marks its 25th trading anniversary.

Mr Anderson said: “We bought the old Dunlop Copytech building, the largest facility we have with land for expansion, and we’re also looking at developing another local site where we’ll focus on renewables.”

Collectively, the company currently has a total footprint in excess of 150,000sqft, as well as five acres of land for development, and a four site will add 50% more space. FES currently employs more than 50 staff across its bases and Mr Anderson says the firm is on the lookout for more talent.

He said: “We’re on a bit of a recruitment campaign at the moment and there’s no ceiling on it because our turnover is growing exceptionally. We’re always looking for good talent to add to the magnificent team we already have.