1:06pm Wednesday 1st September 2010
By Andy Richardson
THE decision of a North-East business to buy from a local supplier last night safeguarded about 150 engineering jobs in the region.
Mech-Tool Engineering, of Darlington, has finalised a £2.3m deal with Tyneside firm McNulty Offshore to provide equipment for a wind farm five miles off the coast of Skegness, in Lincolnshire.
The announcement has calmed fears that the 41-yearold Darlington firm that supplies equipment protecting from fire, explosion and noise hazards could be forced to reduce its workforce after struggling to fill its order book earlier in the year.
However, a recent flurry of new business, that includes two smaller contracts worth about £700,000, led a company spokesman to last night reassure workers that jobs at its Darlington and Teesside bases have been secured into next year.
Mech-Tool’s growing expertise in the renewable energy sector is opening up further opportunities for new business and given them confidence to bid for further contracts in that field.
The latest order is the fourth awarded to Mech-Tool in two years by South Shieldsbased McNulty Offshore, spanning two renewables projects worth a total of £3.6m.
David Walker, business manager for Mech-Tool’s modular division, noted the understanding that has developed between the engineering teams and hailed McNultys for continuing to source from local suppliers.
“McNulty Offshore Construction Ltd deserve recognition for their efforts to ensure work in this emerging sector remains in the North- East of England, which is rapidly becoming a recognised supply chain and centre of excellence for renewable energy engineering, and we are very proud to be part of it.
“Their efforts to work with local companies such as Mech-Tool is a significant contribution towards the development of this emerging sector in our region.”
In June, Mech-Tool invested in modern computer systems to help it stay ahead of the competition.
The £2.3m Lincolnshire contract will see the Darlington firm supply pre-assembled buildings, fire walls, blast walls and weather louvres for a new substation platform within Centrica’s Lincs Offshore Wind Farm Project.
The firm has experience of operating in some of the world’s most hazardous environments.
Matthew Camp, business manager for Mech- Tool’s fire and blast protection products, said the walls they were providing on the substation would be capable of surviving the harsh North Sea conditions.
Earlier this year, the company won RoSPA’s President’s Award, one of the industry’s highest health and safety awards.
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