Teesside-based QA Weld Tech is celebrating its 40th anniversary in business this year, with ambitions to further boost its export activity.

A member of energy industry business development organisation NOF, the company specialises in the welding and fabrication of complex components for ‘severe service’ applications (such as sub-sea systems for the oil and gas industry), in addition to critical components for marine, chemical and nuclear applications.

It has been a mainstay of the North Sea oil and gas supply chain throughout its history, and it has built a reputation for the delivery of high-quality engineering solutions to the international market.

With a current workforce of more than 60 people and a turnover in excess of £7 million, QA Weld Tech was founded by managing director Charles Tighe in a single unit on Riverside Park Industrial Estate and now occupies eight more units on the same site.

Mr Tighe (www.qaweldtech.com) said: “I started with a plan to support local industry with its technical welding requirements, and the company has developed into a major supplier of components for the sub-sea oil and gas industry.

"We have been involved in major offshore oil and gas projects from the North Sea to the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Africa, Australia and the South China Sea, and it gives me a great sense of pride when I see products being labelled for shipping to locations around the world.

“I believe that exceptional British engineering and the skills of our experienced workforce will continue to be in high demand from international markets, which will present increased opportunities for QA Weld Tech, enabling us to extend our 40-year legacy further into the 21st century.”