EoW March 2013

News Corporate

Keighley dig in for £1m investment

It’s high voltage! Pourtier was the chosen supplier for the rotating production lines at ABB’s new North American high-voltage and extra high-voltage transmission cable production facility in Huntersville, North Carolina.

Construction is now underway on Keighley Laboratories’ new heat treatment processes building, at its West Yorkshire, UK, headquarters. work After a detailed topographical survey, site clearance and levelling, the steelwork has now been erected, with the mechanical and electrical (M&E) services scheduled for completion by summer. The site architects are 2H Architecture of Leeds, the main contractor is Triton Construction of Liversedge and the M&E services are being provided by Dualtec of Keighley. Representing a total capital investment in excess of £1m, the purpose-built unit will house furnaces, controls and ancillary equipment for new and complementary processes, augmenting Keighley Labs’ existing array of heat treatment services. 
 “We are effectively in the first stage of moving forward again as a company, by making a sizeable investment in new facilities and positioning ourselves with some of the best resources in the industry,” said Keighley Labs managing director Debbie Mellor, who took time out from her schedule to take control of a site excavator. “In this new building, we shall have modern furnace equipment and the

French-based Pourtier has a long history of collaboration with ABB. Pourtier delivered to the Huntersville facility the large capacity rigid universal drum twister line for laying-up and one large screening line. Additionally, it also supplied the complete installation and commissioning of these three lines. To celebrate the launch of this new modern facility, ABB hosted a grand opening celebration with over 100 invited guest including Mr Enrique Santacana, president and CEO for ABB North America. ▲ ▲ The new production line for ABB in Huntersville, North Carolina, USA strander for conductor, a

▲ ▲ Managing director Debbie Mellor takes control during the construction

most process controls, enabling us to regulate precisely the parameters to suit clients’ exact specifications. “We shall offer a service that is second-to-none, from a single site at the heart of the engineering and aviation supply industry.” 

 existing induction hardening department and now sharing a common despatch yard, the new 5,000ft 2 building is being clad in the same grey-blue coated steel wall and roofing sheets. sophisticated Adjacent to the

Before

construction

could

commence, Architecture supervised the initial enabling contract, which involved demolishing the previous maintenance building. 

 Full-time positions will be created by the new heat treatment facility, together with several apprenticeship opportunities, adding to an existing headcount of 65 personnel. 

 Keighley Laboratories Limited – UK Website : www.keighleylabs.co.uk 2H

Seven-mile Brunei Shell field contract for JDR

team will now execute this project, which is due for load-out in mid-2013. “We will provide on-going support through our AIM Services, which enables us to provide 24/7 aftermarket, installation and maintenance through our global network of highly experienced and fully certified technicians.” Mr Joseph Chen, VP Swiber Brunei: “JDR were the only umbilical provider that was prepared to meet the tight deadlines to roll out this project in order to maximise our return from the Champion Field. “We’re delighted with JDR for agreeing to work with us on this complex project with tight delivery deadlines.” JDR – UK Website : www.jdrcables.com

JDR has won a contract with Swiber Offshore Construction Pte Ltd for the deployment of ten custom designed umbilicals totalling 13km, to be used at water depths of up to 32m in the Brunei Shell Petroleum Champion Field. Paul Gahm, VP sales and marketing at JDR, said: “This contract win is the latest in a long-term relationship with Brunei Shell Petroleum, following two previous umbilical contracts for the Champion Field complex. “It confirms JDR’s position as the preferred umbilical vendor for the Asia Pacific region and is testament to the investment we have made over the last two years in our state-of-the art umbilical plant in Hartlepool, UK.”

He continued: “Our highly experienced operating

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March 2013