Industry News
ScotGov: A £6m deal to help a leading energy industry manufacturer expand its output & secure up to 400 jobs has been unveiled in Scotland. BiFab has been offered £2m of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA), plus a £4m commercial loan from Scottish Enterprise to help finance a new 12,000 square metre facility at Fife Energy Park.
Traditionally involved in the supply of steel fabrications for the oil & gas industry, BiFab has diversified into the offshore wind, wave & tidal power industry - a move which has seen its annual turnover grow from £20m to £90m in 4 years.
It is now a market leader in the manufacture of Jacket substructures for offshore wind turbines and investment by both Scottish Enterprise and Scottish & Southern Energy will help the company more than treble its annual production to 130 structures per year, becoming a major supplier to the wider industry in Scotland.
It is now a market leader in the manufacture of Jacket substructures for offshore wind turbines and investment by both Scottish Enterprise and Scottish & Southern Energy will help the company more than treble its annual production to 130 structures per year, becoming a major supplier to the wider industry in Scotland.
The recently published Scottish National Renewables Infrastructure Plan recognised the importance of Methil as a key location to support the development of Scotland's offshore renewables market and the planned expansion by BiFab is a major first step in the delivery of the plan.
Energy Park Fife has already attracted £23m of public sector investment from SE, Fife Council and the European Union to develop infrastructure on site and support for company growth.
Energy Park Fife has already attracted £23m of public sector investment from SE, Fife Council and the European Union to develop infrastructure on site and support for company growth.
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WAG: A Llanelli graphic designer has won a contract to supply the city of Swansea with street signage which could be worth more than £360,000 over 3 years and provide new job opportunities. Atech Graphics which employs 9 people at its base on the Trostre Industrial Estate, Llanelli, has provided a range of highway & corporate signage for Carmarthenshire County Council for the past 7 years - but this is their first opportunity to supply Swansea.
Managing Director, Richard Thomas, said the new agreement established the company as a recognised supplier to local authorities. Before tendering for the new contract Atech Graphics had advice from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Supplier Development Service which is designed to help companies bid for & win public service contracts.
The service which is backed by European funding, provides expert advice from supplier champions who provide one to one support which Richard Thomas described as invaluable
The service which is backed by European funding, provides expert advice from supplier champions who provide one to one support which Richard Thomas described as invaluable
WAG: A Neath inventor, who travels extensively around the world on business & pleasure, has designed a laptop bag that converts into a mobile workstation. Ceri Davies has spent the past few years refining & developing the Laptek Total Workstation – a multi function laptop bag which he describes as an ‘on the move solution’ for laptop users.
It will be one of a number of inventions from Wales that will be promoted by the Welsh Assembly Government at the International Exhibition of Inventors at Geneva (21-25 April 2010).
It will be one of a number of inventions from Wales that will be promoted by the Welsh Assembly Government at the International Exhibition of Inventors at Geneva (21-25 April 2010).
