Firm's eastern promise

Jun 24 2009 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

FAST-GROWING North East business Tracerco has continued its rapid overseas expansion by opening an outpost in China.

The Teesside company’s success was recognised earlier in April when it was named North East Company of the Year at the nebusiness awards and at the time it announced it was expanding into Asia.

The oil and gas service company, which is part of the Johnson Matthey group, has recently opened new operations facilities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Perth, Australia and now it has established a service centre in Shanghai, China.

Around 130 of its 300 staff are based at its global headquarters in Billingham with the rest employed at operations across the world. It has an annual turnover in excess of £50m.

Ken Pearson, managing director for Asia and Australia said: "Opening an office in China is very important to us. It continues to be a major economic and industrial powerhouse and as such, its demand for energy and petroleum derived manufactured products is increasing.

“I am confident our unique range of products and, technical expertise will be well received by the technology receptive Chinese market ."