Gloucestershire-based Arc Energy Resources, the weld overlay cladding and fabrication specialist, has acquired precision machining company CLG Engineering, based in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire.
Arc Energy Resources provides corrosion-resistant weld overlay cladding services to a variety of clients in industry sectors ranging from oil and gas to defence, power generation, petrochemical, water and nuclear. Its versatile processes provide a practical combination of readily-available, cost-effective base materials and corrosion-resistant alloys to protect any critical area, providing cost savings and reductions in lead times. Its fabrication department holds ASME U and U2 Stamps, and manufactures radiographic-quality specialist equipment, including pressure vessels, spools, pig launchers, wellhead equipment and nuclear devices.
CLG Engineering provides CNC milling, CNC turning and assembly services to, amongst others, the oil and gas, automotive and rail industries. Certified to ISO 9001, and with over 40 years’ engineering experience, its knowledgeable team can produce parts from 25mm to 1.25 metres in length, and up to 18” diameter, within tight tolerances.
The acquisition means that Arc Energy Resources’ 80 employees are supplemented by CLG Engineering’s 14, to create a stronger team with a wider mix of skills. Both companies are supported by teams of experienced project managers, inspectors and welding engineers, with access to a wide range of auxiliary processes in-house, including heat treatment, NDT and CMM inspection.
Commenting on behalf of both companies, group managing director Andrew Robinson, says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for both companies. CLG Engineering’s precision machining capability perfectly complements Arc Energy Resources’ cladding and fabrication offering.
“The group structure enables us to offer a one-stop-shop for all our clients’ engineering requirements, from design and material supply through to welding, cladding, machining, NDT, pressure testing, surface finishing and project management.”
He goes on to say that the cultures of the two companies are highly compatible, from a focus on quality, attention to detail and customer service, to the way they treat their staff. “I have great plans for the future growth of the group, and am looking forward to supporting our clients on new and larger projects.” says Andrew.
Arc Energy Resources was supported in the acquisition by Gloucestershire-based BPE Solicitors. Commenting for the practice, corporate partner Tim Ward says: “We were delighted to represent Arc Energy Resources at such an important time. With our head office in Cheltenham, we opened an office in Stonehouse just two years ago, so this is a great opportunity to work with two successful Stroud businesses, providing them with legal services at a very exciting time. We wish them every success.”
The acquisition follows a record trading year for Arc Energy Resources, which grew its turnover in 2015 by 14% to £6.5M and invested heavily in new equipment and facilities including a bi-cathode rotary head cladding cell, a robotic welding cell and a 6,000 square foot extension to its workshop.
Arc Energy Resources are specialists in weld overlay cladding and the manufacture of fabrications for the oil & gas industry. Weld overlay cladding provides the benefit of cost effective protection against corrosion and wear for a variety of components destined for aggressive environments.
Transition, the theme of this year’s ONS, echoes the ongoing development of the company. Within the last year, Andrew Robinson has been promoted to managing director, whilst the company has invested heavily in new equipment, including twin tungsten and robotic machinery, that has significantly boosted the size and scope of the company’s weld overlay cladding capabilities.
Integrated with a sophisticated production system, the new machines handle components that would previously have been considered almost impossible to clad. The new investments are a direct result of close consultation with clients, who have increasingly challenging weld requirements, which Arc Energy’s highly qualified engineering team are pleased to help solve.
Eastington-based weld overlay cladding and fabrication specialist Arc Energy Resources achieved a record turnover of £6.5 million, while investing £1 million in new equipment and a new building to house a sophisticated computerised robot.
New managing director Andrew Robinson says the company’s performance has been achieved against a sector background of falling oil prices, many thousands of redundancies announced by major industry leaders, and shorter working weeks.
Arc Energy Resources offers outstanding technical support in its main discipline of specialised weld overlay cladding, which is widely used in the oil and gas industries to protect huge valves, pumps and pipelines from corrosion.
“We have also increased office space, installed a highly-specialised robotic research and development facility, invested in a bi-cathode installation that will pre-qualify equipment and enable us to increase the capacity, accuracy, productivity and lead times of our weld overlay cladding output.” says Andrew.
Andrew also confirms that Arc Energy Resources has created a new 600 square metre manufacturing facility that will allow the company to increase its capacity to clad massive 30” globe valves that have become something of a speciality for its highly-trained welding teams. Additionally, the company’s previous investment in two rotating head welding machines continues to increase productivity and extend the size and scope of work the company can handle.
The company also boasts excellent management systems and an ongoing research and development programme as part of its investment, which topped £1 million across a wide range of projects.
Andrew Robinson, who last year succeeded his father as managing director of Gloucestershire-based weld overlay cladding and fabrication specialist Arc Energy Resources, has been selected as the 2016 Institute of Directors (IoD) South West Family Business Director of the Year.
Commenting for the IoD, regional director Simon Face says: “Andrew’s success is an excellent example of a second-generation leader who has evolved the business, driving their own path and strategic direction in a niche sector which has made a hugely positive impact.
“It is great to see clear thinking, positive planning and thorough business knowledge shining through towards real results.” he says.
This latest announcement builds on Andrew’s previous success with the IoD, having received the Director Development Award in 2014. This was related to his performance when studying for the IoD Certificate in Company Direction, and provided a lot of positive exposure for Andrew and Arc Energy Resources.
Presented at a prestigious ceremony at Ashton Gate stadium, the South West Family Business Director of the Year award was based on Andrew’s achievements within the business over the last twelve months. These include a brand new workshop, a strong succession plan, and record turnover of £6.5 milion despite difficult market conditions in the oil and gas sector.
Andrew has also driven a big increase in research and development spending, resulting in the acquisition of three new cutting-edge pieces of technology: a bi-cathode rotary head cladding system; a robotic welding cell; and the next generation of conventional cladding stations, designed and built in-house by Arc Energy’s experienced engineers.
Andrew joined the family firm in 2008 working in the Supply Chain department, but swiftly took on additional roles. “I went on to develop our environmental management system, take on shop floor scheduling and project management.” says Andrew.
Having taken on more and more enjoyable responsibilities, Andrew realised in 2012 that he should be treating his role in the company as a serious aspiration. “I completed management training and subsequently directorship training with the IoD and, in 2013, was appointed to the Board of Directors. In 2014 we finalised our succession plans in which I became managing director, and I published my six-year business plan.” he says.
Since then Arc Energy Resources has expanded profitably into new markets, increased the capacity of the premises and been awarded the prestigious Investors in People Silver award, plus Health and Wellbeing. On a personal level, Andrew’s activities outside the business have included engaging with local schools and careers events.
“The biggest long-term issue facing our sector is a lack of young skilled workers and I believe industry has a significant role to play in encouraging young people to consider a career in engineering.” says Andrew. “It’s such an exciting place to be and with so many opportunities, we need to let children, parents and teachers know what is available to them.”
Andrew is a member of the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing sector group and, alongside representatives from companies including Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Sellafield and other major nuclear operators, sits on the Advisory Board to the National Skills Academy for Nuclear.
“It’s a real honour to receive this award and great to be recognised for my hard work.” says Andrew. Looking to the future, he adds: “My success in the recent IoD awards also qualifies me to represent the South West region in the National Director of the Year awards in London, in October. So there is much to look forward to!”
Gloucestershire-based Arc Energy Resources – a specialist in weld overlay cladding and fabrication services for the oil & gas, nuclear and water industries worldwide – has been awarded a prestigious Investors in People Silver Award, an upgrade to the Bronze Award it has held since 2013. The Company also received the Good Practice award for Health and Wellbeing.
Announcing the new awards, company director Rosemary Robinson says: “The Investors in People award recognises that businesses go above and beyond expectations in the way they develop, support and motivate staff. Since winning the Bronze Award standard, with each subsequent assessment we have been able to demonstrate real improvements to our systems.” She adds that Investors in People is not something achieved by simply ticking a box or preparing for an audit, it is something that is central to a business. “We live it.” she says.
Commenting on the news, Rosemary’s son and Arc Energy Resources managing director, Andrew Robinson says: “It is exciting to have this accreditation as it demonstrates that we go above and beyond expectations to ensure that our staff are well managed, trained and developed.”
For the new award, an additional 20 assessment objectives were considered within the IIP Framework, including 92 additional evidence requirements and an initial assessment against the IIP’s Health and Wellbeing Award.
As Rosemary explains, the Health and Wellbeing Award is special because it shows that, in addition to the IIP Silver requirement, the company is investing significant resources into the ongoing health and wellbeing of its staff, which is good for them and for the Company.
She adds that the way this affects staff was demonstrated when, in 2015, one of our employees, Charlie Fryer, won Employee of the Year in the Cotswold Life EMI awards, and Arc Energy Resources won the Stroud Life Family Business of the Year and overall Business of the Year.
The Investors in People framework, which is suitable for organisations of any size and in any sector, transforms business performance through people, helping companies to achieve their objectives by targeting specific priorities within the organisation.
Arc Energy Resources was first accredited as an Investor in People in May 2004 and successfully reviewed in 2007, 2010 and 2013.
Summarising, Investors in People Practitioner Mary Walsh says that all of the core requirements were met and she was therefore delighted to confirm that Silver level accreditation has been awarded. She was further delighted to confirm that all of the requirements of a further Health and Wellbeing Award were also met and the new Award was added to Arc Energy Resources’ achievements, together with a clear understanding of the success and the costs of company’s health and wellbeing strategy.
The IIP review also noted that strategic planning has improved significantly, learning and development continues to be well structured and staff describe a longstanding open culture where people are listened to and constructive feedback is encouraged.
Andrew Robinson, Managing Director of Gloucestershire-based Arc Energy Resources, has been shortlisted for the Institute of Directors (IoD) South West regional Director of the Year Awards.
Andrew has been at the helm of the Eastington-based family business since 2014, during which time the company has delivered record turnover and strong profits. This has been achieved through workshop expansion and procurement of a number of new cutting-edge technologies that have put the company in a strong position against its commercial competitors. Their prime customers are in the oil and gas industry but Arc Energy Arc Energy Resources also supplies petrochemical, power generation, defence and nuclear sectors. In addition, some twenty percent of its work is also exported.
Following his appointment as Managing Director of Arc Energy Resources, Andrew developed an ambitious six-year business plan emphasising 15% year-on-year growth. As a result, in 2015 the company achieved record turnover of £6.3m and maintained a strong profit level. He also initiated a number of exciting projects, including expansion of the workshops and procurement of three new cutting-edge technologies. This level of investment, coupled with the company’s technical prowess and strong client relationships, puts Arc Energy Resources ahead its competitors.
Commenting on the value of the IoD Awards, Andrew says: “Having received very positive exposure from winning the IoD SW Developing Director of the Year award in 2014, I am now applying for this year’s IOD award to celebrate my results as Arc Energy’s MD, as well as those of everyone in the business; and I wanted to build on our efforts and prove we could all could all achieve more.
“This is a good time to apply for the award, as it showcases the link between my directorial input and the tangible results the business has achieved, which also gives confidence to Arc Energy’s staff that the company is in safe hands, after passing onto the next generation.”
Gloucestershire-based weld overlay cladding and fabrication specialist Arc Energy Resources has announced the promotion of Andrew Robinson, son of the company’s founders, Rosemary and Alan Robinson, as the new Managing Director.
Andrew, who graduated with a degree in Economics and Spanish from Nottingham University, joined the business in 2008 and was appointed to the Board in 2013. His parents, Alan formerly managing director and Rosemary finance director, are still involved as directors in the running of the Eastington-based engineering company, who’s highly trained welding teams, provide fabrication and weld overlay cladding services to the oil & gas, defence and water treatment industries.
Following his university studies Andrew had plans to work at the treasury in London. But nearing the end of his course he became ‘underwhelmed’ with the idea of crunching numbers for the rest of his life and wanted to do something more exiting and practical. So in 2008, Andrew started working for the company, and found that he really enjoyed it. In discussion with Alan, an opportunity was identified to benefit from Andrew’s economics background to develop a purchasing department, an area in which Arc Energy was deficient. Says Andrew: “Many technical products were dictated by commodity markets and we were buying them at spot prices, which I felt could be improved.” The introduction turned out to be an outstanding success, with cost reductions of up to 25% on key spends such as welding consumables and industrial gas, and a halving of stock days within the first two years.
He went on to develop Arc Energy’s environmental management system and won accreditation to the international standard ISO 14001 in 2010. He then set his sights on the company’s shop floor scheduling system. “It was time well spent”, he admits, “as it enabled me to experience all aspects of the business.”
Commenting on aspects of projects that he has been involved with, he quotes a growing interest in full supply projects, where Arc Energy is involved in buying materials and ancillary components; and which exercises his purchasing background. “Most Arc Energy projects have involved clients supplying free issue materials, but recent trends indicate an increasing requirement to source and supply material”, says Andrew. “Our clients are seeking to maximise production and offload risk. Many customers are keen for us to get involved in full turnkey supply packages, and these projects fit nicely within our strategic plan to grow this aspect of the business.”
Says Andrew, “From conception, the business has always punched above its weight in the provision of technical support. Indeed, many clients rely on the technical skills we supply as part of our service.
Our clients may not be experts in welding, so whilst their products look fine in CAD, when we take it apart to weld it we realise that production is not possible or would work better if it was designed differently. We don’t push our design capabilities but we actually carry out a great deal of ‘design for manufacture’ on behalf of our clients.”
Significantly, ‘design for manufacture’ was also an important element of the recent Fit For Nuclear audit which Arc Energy successfully undertook. The company was one of the first businesses in the south west to achieve the prestigious award. The directors identified nuclear new build as a significant area of growth in the UK and are keen to be able to offer its cladding and fabrication services from an early stage. Says Andrew: “We are currently heavily reliant on oil and gas. It is a measure of the reputation we have achieved that we are extremely busy whilst many others are quiet, at a time of falling oil prices. However, we recognise that we need to pursue a strategy of diversification nonetheless. New nuclear is an important part of that plan, as well as growing our other market sectors, such as green energy, defence and petrochemical.”
Since his appointment to the Board of Directors in 2013, Andrew has also been busy working with Cranfield University to develop Arc Energy’s five-year business plan. “This period was particularly exciting, mixing with other leaders from a wide and varied range of business sectors and talking about how we could drive our business forward. The thrust of the plan is growth” explains Andrew. “We are targeting 15% year-on-year growth, expanding both our cladding and fabrication facilities, whilst also seeking inroads into new markets. We are largely on track to meet that target in 2015.” As part of this plan, the company is building an additional 500m2 of workshop space on its site in Eastington to house additional cladding stations, and is taking on extra welders to support this.
Andrew is determined that he will continue the business philosophy of support and encouragement for all employees. He says: “The business achieved Investors in People accreditation in 2004, and that infrastructure has improved year-on-year. We won Bronze award last time and at the next review will target the Silver standard. I recognise that our employees are the key to our success and will always be proud to get the best out of everyone.” The business has a comprehensive training system which includes yearly apprentice intake and extends to regular careers support for youngsters who wish to find out more about engineering.
Says Andrew: “I now think that the future of business is less about hurdles and more about opportunities. I see the future as a really exciting place, and a lot of the opportunities that were included in our plan for 2015 are really taking off. Construction on the new building started in October, we are currently trialling our latest investment in new machinery, and our latest batch of apprentices have just started college.”
Andrew was the proud recipient in 2014 of the Institute of Directors South West Developing Director of the Year, and the company’s hard work was rewarded in 2015 with several prestigious awards: Stroud Life Family Business of the Year and overall Business of the Year; Cotswold Life Employee of the Year (for project manager Charlie Fryer) and runner-up Manufacturer of the Year.
Gloucestershire-based Arc Energy Resources – a specialist in weld overlay cladding and fabrication for oil & gas, nuclear and water industries worldwide – is delighted to announce that employee Charlie Fryer has been awarded Employee of the Year at the recent Cotswold Life Engineering Manufacturing Innovation (EMI) Awards, with the company itself achieving runner-up status in the Manufacturer of the Year category.
A real success story for Arc Energy Resources, in 2005 and at the age of just 14, Charlie Fryer enjoyed a week’s work experience with the company and, encouraged by his time there, applied for and was accepted on an apprenticeship at the company on leaving school. In July 2013, having undergone extensive on- and off-site training and an often intensive course at Gloucester College, Charlie completed his apprenticeship and is now employed by the company as a Project Engineer. And the story doesn’t end there because, having completed his HND in Mechanical Engineering in 2014, Charlie is now studying towards a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of the West of England in Bristol, which he will complete in 2018!
The Cotswold Life EMI Awards were open to businesses throughout the Cotswolds, an area steeped in a history of manufacturing and one that continues to flourish with industries from renewable energy to pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace and many more. This award follows recent successes at the Stroud Life Business Awards, where Arc Energy Resources was shortlisted for and successfully won the Family Business of the Year, along with the highlight of the evening, the Business of the Year award.
A delighted Andrew Robinson says: “The culture of our company is to embrace and nurture talented staff and their thinking. This leads to a workplace where each member of staff and their ideas are respected, valued and listened to, whilst demonstrating Arc Energy’s commitment to attracting, developing and retaining committed personnel. It is this philosophy which saw the company gain the Investor In People Bronze award in 2013.”
Ends
310 words
For further information contact:
Andrew Robinson, Arc Energy Resources
Unit 12 Eastington Industrial Estate, Meadow Mill, Eastington, Gloucestershire GL10 3RZ
Tel: +44 (0)1453 823523 Fax: +44 (0)1453 823623
E-mail: sales@arcenergy.co.uk Web: www.arcenergy.co.uk
For press information contact:
Dennis Cantillion, Cantillion King Advertising
16 The Cornhill, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2JT
Tel: +44 (0)1453 755551 Fax: +44 (0)1453 751525 E-mail: dennis@cka.co.uk
Following its participation in the initial pilot phase of the Skills for Stroud Work Experience Charter, Eastington based weld overlay cladding specialist Arc Energy Resources has achieved the Full Recognition of the standard of the Charter.
The Charter, which is developed as a set of standards aligned with national good practice guidelines, is used as a basis to review the support that companies provide to individuals undertaking work experience activities within their organisations.
Commenting for Arc Energy Resources, director Rosemary Robinson says: “This is an important external endorsement for our organisation and reflects the commitment to, and importance we place, on ensuring a meaningful work experience programme is in place to enable our staff to achieve their potential; and broaden their knowledge of the employment opportunities available to them.” For further information on the Skills for Stroud Work Experience Charter see the resource pack on their website at: www.stroud.gov.uk/workexp.
Weld overlay cladding specialist Arc Energy Resources has successfully completed a contract for supply of two riser joints for Aquaterra Energy, the provider of world-class and award-winning offshore solutions.
The components are part of two low pressure risers for an oil platform. The finished risers were destined for a set of twenty wells being drilled in the North Sea off the coast of Norway. It is a brand new development for a low pressure section of pipes to deal with any drill fluids and shallow gas that they may encounter while drilling the first top-hole section of a well.
Commenting for Arc Energy Resources, director Andrew Robinson says: “This project played well to our core strengths, a full supply contract for which we secured the material for both components (a flange and pipe for each), applied the weld overlay cladding, welded the flanges to the pipes, organised the pressure testing, completed radiographic testing requirements and arranged final coating of both items all within a very tight delivery schedule.”
The project is a DNV class rig, designed to the DNV0SE101 code and was signed off by Det Norske Veritas as suitably manufactured and designed for the task. Aquaterra Energy Project Engineer Matt Hugo comments: “DNV is one of the oil & gas industry’s largest verification bodies, which confirms calculations that pipe wall thickness and flanges are sufficient for the pressure. For this project they also undertook a review of the overall design of this section of pipe.”
The component acts as a conduit for drilling fluids and equipment during the top hole section and ensures that in the event of gas passing up through the well it can be contained and routed to the rig diverter where it can be vented to atmosphere.
The risers need to have a sealing ring groove in the end of the flange, which is inlaid with an extremely hard, corrosion resistant Inconel 625 alloy.
As Aquaterra Energy has previously used Arc Energy Resources for specialist welding requirements, it approached the company again with a view to provide full supply of materials, carry out all required welding, inlaying of the flange, testing and coating.
Arc Energy Resources sourced the machined flanges and clad with Inconel 625, before completing the welding requirements for the project using Submerged Arc Welding – a process that provides a high quality finish.
Once welded, the parts were pressure tested. Domed end caps were welded onto the straight pipe lengths and then both joints were sealed together through adjoining flange faces to form a complete vessel. For the first stage of pressure testing, the riser was filled with water to a test pressure of 750psi, which provided a safe 500psi working pressure. After being held at this pressure for 5 minutes it was pressured down and pumped back up, then held for a further 15 minutes before being drained-down. When the pressure test was complete, radiographic testing was carried out to confirm that the welds hadn’t cracked or been damaged. The end caps were removed with pipe free ends being finish machined as required. The parts were then sent to be coated.
Says Matt Hugo: “We were at Arc Energy Resources’ site when the testing was carried out and were very impressed with the way they conducted the demanding procedures, whilst maintaining their high levels of health & safety.”
The final checks for the unit were carried out by a team that included an inspector from Aquaterra Energy’s customer and their own inspector accompanied by an inspector from DNV. Following the riser’s final check the unit was ready for use. It was delivered offshore and installed in position on-time where it has since operated very successfully.
Summing up, Matt Hugo says: “This project was quite a straightforward concept. But, as with many straightforward concepts, there is potential for things to go wrong. Fortunately, Arc Energy Resources’ knowledge and experience ensured that nothing did, and they kept us up-to-date every step of the way and the whole project went very smoothly. Arc Energy Resources did a sterling job, delivered an excellent project, with exceptional performance throughout the manufacture of the unit. They did everything we have asked of them.”
