Member Article

Expansion & recruitment are in the pipeline at Hydraulic & Offshore Supplies

A specialist offshore supply company is investing in its future with equipment upgrades and staff recruitment including its first ever apprentice after receiving funding from Sunderland City Council.

Sunderland-based Hydraulic & Offshore Supplies (HOS) which currently employs 11 people has been in business 30 years supplying hydraulic tube, fittings, instrumentation and pipeline materials.

It is a member of local business development organisation NOF Energy, and serves the marine, oil & gas, shipbuilding and general manufacturing sectors, supplying businesses both in the UK and internationally including Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Australia.

Further to several successful meetings with the business investment team at Sunderland City Council, part funding for the investment project was approved.

The newly purchased equipment, the investment for which has not been disclosed, includes a hose assembly test rig, flushing unit and engraving machine will enable HOS to pressure test hose assemblies up to 1200 bar (17640 psi).

Workshop manager, Paul Taylor commented: “The investment in the new equipment will allow our hose technicians to manufacture, pressure test and flush new hose assemblies to offer the complete one-stop-shop approach.

“This will allow HOS to look after its existing customer base but also give us the capability to pursue larger, more ambitious contracts.

“We recently employed our first apprentice and have also added another technician to our team, we are also looking to employee a further 2-3 members of staff in the months ahead.

“Our aim is to secure a bigger proportion of the work generated by the Marine & Offshore sector in the North East. We appreciate the assistance and advice given to us by Sunderland City Council’s business investment team and look forward to what the future holds in the months and years ahead.”

As a result of the investment, the HOS business development department is currently concentrating on a new company brochure and website to enable them to promote HOS effectively.

Caroline Lofthouse, business development manager at NOF Energy, said: “Growth driven businesses like HOS are an important link in the supply chain to the Oil & Gas and marine sectors.

“It bodes well for the industry that HOS is investing in plant and machinery and recruiting additional workers.

“This is a prime example of the forward thinking, ambitious approaches that are embraced by NOF Energy members.”

Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council said: “It’s great news that a company which has operated successfully from Sunderland for over 30 years is investing in an even stronger future.

“Hydraulic & Offshore Supplies works in key sectors for growth in the region and the UK. The City Council is delighted to be advising the company as it plans its future development.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Middleton Enterprises .