Imtech Marine looks offshore for sales

Mar 26 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A MARINE electricals firm is looking to grow its sales after combining its workforce in Billingham and Newcastle and said it is now in a better position to beat the recession.

Imtech Marine and Offshore has merged the operations at its new site in Monkton, Hebburn, in order to cut costs as well as become more efficient as it looks to rise to the challenge of the economic downturn.

The firm said it intends to create new jobs as it looks to increase activity in the offshore market.

It also decided to move out of its site at Wallsend’s Swan Hunter shipyard after much of it was closed down following a decision in 2006 by the Ministry of Defence to sever its contract with Swan Hunter, which brought an end to 150 years of shipbuilding on the Tyne.

The company, which is part of the £3.4bn a year Ditch firm Imtech and also has an office in Glasgow, has supplied advanced electrical, automation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to more than 150 ships with 17 navies and for more than 600 commercial ships worldwide.

It is currently working on a number of contracts, including its first offshore project with local firm IHC Engineering Business, based in Riding Mill, Northumberland. It is also involved in a long list of other marine works.

Sales manager Tony Jones said: “I can’t say the credit crunch hasn’t affected us in some ways, and with that in mind we are very much looking to consolidate and retain our sales performance over the next two years.

“However, we are looking to grow over a five-year period as we become increasingly involved with offshore markets.”