Certex Defence - News

30/10/06 Certex Opens New Lifting Centre In Aberdeen

Certex UK – one of the country’s leading lifting gear distributors – has opened a new centre in Aberdeen as part of its commitment to increase services for offshore customers.

Located on the city’s Harehill Industrial Estate, the centre occupies modern 11,000ft² premises complete with manufacturing capabilities, dedicated training facilities, warehouse space and offices. It will operate along the same lines as Certex’s 15 other regional distribution centres and will handle lifting gear sales, product hire, and repair and maintenance as well as product inspection and testing.

Dave Butler, General Manager for Certex’s offshore operations, explains why the company has made such a substantial investment in this area: “Although Certex has had a significant presence in Aberdeen for a number of years, we did not have the facilities to hold a large quantity of stock.

“Our new premises allow us to give customers in this niche market immediate access to a wide range of products as well as providing additional services tailored to their specific local requirements, such as the refurbishment of off-shore lifting equipment or the provision of legally required training,” he said.

The centre will be under the local management of Eddie Mowatt, who will be supported by a strong and experienced team of sales personnel and workshop operatives for shop floor activities and stock distribution. The company will also be recruiting engineers to cover the full scope of the Certex business.

Specialist testing and inspection facilities form part of the services offered at the new centre

An integral part of the new centre is a specialist training facility, run by Certex’s Training Manager, George Coull. A former Chief Examiner of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) and ex Director of the LEEA, George is already known in the Aberdeen area for his previous work as one of British Petroleum’s offshore crane specialists.

Using the facilities at the centre, Certex is offering its customers a full range of specialist training options to ensure that their employees are fully compliant with the legal requirements of both the current Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations and the Provision of Work Equipment Regulations.

Certex has another specialised offshore centre in Great Yarmouth, which has expanded considerably over the last five years. Dave Butler puts this down to a focus on high quality, around-the-clock, 365-days-a-year service, both locally and internationally, and the company is keen to repeat this performance at Aberdeen.

“Great Yarmouth is a huge success story and we are hoping that Aberdeen will follow suit. We already have a number of high profile customers in the Aberdeen area – including Sparrows Offshore Services, Aker Kvaerner, Schlumberger and Expro North Sea – and we aim to attract new business through the increased availability of locally held products and extra services,” he said.

Certex supplies a wide range of quality products to the offshore industry, including Checkmate fall arrest equipment, Bridon ropes, Crosby fittings for ropes and chains, Elephant chain blocks and Bulldog Loadsafe blocks.

It is also one of the few companies in the market place to provide a complete package comprising product supply and installation, inspection, testing, repair and maintenance, training services and certification management. Certex also offers a product hire service.

 

Pictured outside Certex’s new Aberdeen centre are: (left to right) Eddie Mowatt (Centre Manager); George Coull (Training Manager); Ian Ross (Storeman); and Dave Butler (General Offshore Manager).