In recognition of its outstanding export achievement over the past six years, Oldmeldrum-based Flowline Specialists has received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
The Grampian-based energy industry equipment manufacturer and service provider – which also celebrates its 15th anniversary this year – is one of a handful of Scottish companies to be awarded the accolade this year.
Flowline designs, engineers and manufactures a range of equipment that safely handles flexible pipes, umbilicals and cables in the global oil and gas, subsea and renewable industries.
Seven years ago the firm began a concerted push to grow its international business, having previously focused its efforts on the UK oil and gas market.
This international focus has seen the north-east firm’s overseas sales grow by 2,600% from £128,400 in the year ending 31 March 2010 to £3.4 million in the year to end 31 March 2015. In the same period, turnover grew by 640% to £6.36 million, with overseas sales representing 55% of turnover, while UK staff numbers rose from eight to 55.
Chief Executive Jim Smith has been instrumental in driving the business forward over the past seven years. His vision to diversify the business into the subsea and renewable sectors and target projects internationally has contributed to the continuous growth in overseas sales
To aid export growth Flowline also established a number of operational bases overseas – in Norway, The Netherlands, Singapore and Dubai – to better serve its international markets.
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