This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New manufacturing plant for Aberdeen
27/06/2003
US-owned Brandt's new shaker screen manufacturing
facility was officially opened in Aberdeen today by Deputy
Enterprise Minister, Lewis Macdonald.
Brandt, a Varco company, recently completed a 10,000
square foot extension to its 70,000 square foot plant based
at Badentoy Industrial Estate in Portlethen and recruitment
is currently underway to fill 12 new posts created by the
plant's expansion.
Mr Macdonald said:
"The Executive is working to create the conditions which
will allow higher growth in Scotland, meaning more and
better jobs being available.
"The opening of Brandt's new plant will provide a
welcome jobs boost in the north east, and is also a good
example of Scotland attracting high-quality international
investment.
"Manufacturing plays a key role in the Scottish economy
and we are committed to continuing to work with the
industry, through groups such as PILOT, and the
re-established Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group."
Andrew Imrie, Brandt's Account Manager, explained at the
opening ceremony that there were two main benefits of the
new manufacturing facility.
"The main benefit to our customers will be reduced
lead-times on large deliveries to Europe, Africa, Asia and
the Middle East along with a recycling option. The Red
Diamond, the brand new name for our new steel core screen
product is environmentally friendly, in that the frame is
recyclable. This reduces landfill as historically all used
composite screen frames have been non-recyclable.
"Up to 250 MT (metric tonnes) of waste a year can be
reduced by recycling our screen products alone. This is the
first time this type of product has been recycled
successfully and economically by any company on a global
scale."
Jennifer Craw, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise
Grampian, said:
"Brandt's expansion at Portlethen is significant news
for the area and represents the type of investment that
will help the North-east continue to perform well in
national and international markets.
"Brandt is an innovative company and Aberdeen's position
as the European energy capital means that it is the ideal
environment for inward investors active in international
oil and gas markets. The region also offers a
highly-skilled workforce with extensive experience in oil
and gas engineering and technical disciplines which will
assist Brandt in its current recruitment process."
Brandt is a trading division of the Varco Corporation,
which is headquartered in Houston (
www.varco.com) with 160 staff currently based in Aberdeen.
The Portlethen facility currently manufactures shale
shakers, which are used to separate solids from drilling
fluids. Further information about Brandt's screen product
can be found on
www.brandtvarco.com/html/solids/reddiamond.
Scottish Enterprise is the main economic development
agency for Scotland covering 93% of the population from
Grampian to the Borders.
The Scottish Enterprise Network consists of Scottish
Enterprise and 12 Local Enterprise Companies.
Working in partnership with the private and public
sectors the Network aims to build more and better
businesses, to develop the skills and knowledge of Scottish
people, and to encourage innovation to make Scottish
business internationally competitive. Further information
on Scottish Enterprise is available on our website:
http://www.scottish-enterprise.com
In October 2001, "Scotland: A Global Connections
Strategy" was launched as part of the Scottish Executive's
guiding principles for the Enterprise Networks, "A Smart
Successful Scotland." It set out a radical new approach to
establish Scotland as a world class business partner in the
globally connected economy of the 21st Century, including
the creation of a new body, Scottish Development
International, which is jointly operated by the Scottish
Executive and Scottish Enterprise.