Forum starts construction of new Westhill site (UK)

Construction of the new European Operations center for global oilfield equipment and products company, Forum Energy Technologies, has begun.

This multi million pound investment in the new Westhill facility will initially house 120 employees and will bring together five Forum businesses that are currently spread throughout Aberdeenshire.

Forum Subsea Rentals, Forum Subsea Tooling, Sub-Atlantic and Forum Drilling Distribution will all relocate to the new building in the spring of 2015 when construction is due to be completed. The new facility has been designed to accommodate Forum’s planned growth in staff numbers and business operations over the next few years.

The new building, which has 14,000 square feet of offices, 40,000 square feet of warehouse and 36,000 square feet of outdoor yard space, will also feature a state-of-the-art test tank, containing 135,000 litres of water, which is capable of testing work-class Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), ROV tooling and a variety of underwater sensors. The facility offers hydraulic, electrical and electronic workshops along with a 10-tonne gantry crane.

Graham Adair, vice-president sales and marketing for Forum Energy Technologies, said: “Marking the beginning of construction on our prestigious new site today is a major milestone in Forum’s continued growth and development. Consolidating all our Aberdeen-based subsea operations under one roof will ensure that we are even better positioned to meet our customers’ needs and will also provide our employees with a fantastic working environment. In addition to attractive new offices, the facility will boast a fully-equipped gym and cafeteria for our staff.”

Forum’s regional head office will remain at Concorde House, Westhill and Forum AMC, with its 90 strong workforce, will continue its manufacturing and operations from its current base in Findon, Aberdeenshire.

Forum Energy Technologies serves the subsea, drilling, completion, production and infrastructure sectors of the oil and gas industry with highly engineered capital equipment and products.

With its global head-quarters in Houston, the company employs 3,500 – 290 of whom are based in Aberdeen.