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Premium Threading Specialists Major Investment
Originally founded in 1997 after a management buy-out, Mountwest Petroleum Engineering Ltd (MPE) has established an unrivalled reputation for quality and service in threading and machining service.
As part of the Mountwest Group, MPE operates from its base in Arbroath, offering the oil and gas industry a threading and machining service from Premium threading to the manufacture of down-hole accessories.
In 2007 Mountwest Petroleum Engineering undertook an expansion programme which had a massive investment in plant, machinery and personnel. For example, pipe handling capabilities have recently been expanded with investment in new machines, such as a 17 inch 60,000 lbs/ft Torqueing machine and a state-of-the-art Swage-Punch Machine.
Neil Dewar, the Mountwest Petroleum Engineering General Manager, said “This is part of a programme of regular investment which has also included another CNC lathe and additional Phosphating capacity to create a Coupling Cell.
Neil Dewar explained; “Our services are centred around Premium threading; we were one of the first licensees in the UK appointed by Vallourec and have since qualified on most Vallourec connections and are licensees for major pipe mills including Tenaris and NS Connection Technology. Our large number of thread qualifications is a real strength. The fact that we can cut-to-length, swage or expand pin and box ends and stress-relieve before threading, Phosphating and Torqueing is a service most of our clients require”
Neil added; “We work directly for oil companies, pipe management companies and also various subcontractors who might do the lion’s share of the machining but rely on us for premium threading. Turn-key projects, where we manufacture and supply the complete finished component for companies such as Halliburton, Weatherford and Vetco Gray also form part of our portfolio”
As a subcontract company governed by customer requirements, Mountwest Petroleum Engineering has also been prepared to invest in additional improvements - such as E-Max, a new manufacturing control software tool - which maintain and enhance the already extremely high standards you might expect of a company that has held ISO 9001 almost since inception and now attained ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.
Mountwest Petroleum Engineering operates from a 95,000 square foot site with substantial hard standing that creates a competitive advantage in the size of pipe orders that can be taken on board.
Investing in people has had a major impact on staff retention and regular staff appraisals have reflected a positive, friendly working atmosphere ,with a very low turnover of staff, within Mountwest Petroleum Engineering, this in turn has had a significant impact on customer satisfaction and work output. The company also addresses skills shortages by regularly taking on apprentices.
Although Mountwest Petroleum Engineering operates primarily within the oil and gas industry, they are looking towards the future with one eye on alternative energy generation systems. “The oil sector is cyclical,” said Dewar. “so we must look at other opportunities, which will definitely include renewable energy and aerospace”
As one of the UK’s smallest players in the niche market of Premier threading, the company is well aware that the development of new markets both in industry and geographically will be a controlled development and will be part of the overall strategy for future investment,
Neil added, “any diversification to counteract the fluctuations in the oil sector has to be strategically thought out, building on existing equipment, strengths and skills and investing in new technology when necessary. We certainly have the technical skills and commitment from the workforce to succeed in other markets”
New geographic markets do also present opportunities, he continued. “As a repair workshop we have to move where the business is and have been invited to consider opening a workshops further afield. There are always opportunities in oil hotspots, and though we must factor in issues around political instability we’ve done our homework and have the skills and equipment to move fairly quickly when such uncertainties are clarified.
We believe that ‘customer satisfaction’ is at the heart of our success and in order to achieve this we must continually look at the organization of the workplace, production, manufacturing and the workforce and invest strategically to offer a total quality service.
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