A leading fabrication and mechanical engineering specialist is setting its sights on rapid expansion after securing a string of new contracts, including a £1 million framework extension for Northumbrian Water.
Deritend Group, which employs 14 people at its purpose-built workshop on the Riverside Park Industrial Estate in Middlesbrough, has won the contract that involves design, fabrication, coating and site installation of load bearing platforms and other structural fabrications.
The company is now looking to bounce back from the challenges of Covid-19 lockdowns by maximising recent investment by GE Renewables and the announcement of a Teesside Freeport, not to mention transferring its technical manufacturing expertise into new opportunities in nuclear, oil and gas, chemicals and renewables.
This will involve investment in training and workshop equipment to allow the business to compete in highly compliant sectors and the recruitment of a new lead administrator and two new apprentices.
Richard Brown, the general manager at the Deritend Group Middlebrough site, said: “Last year was very challenging and we had to adapt to a downturn in orders with businesses reluctant to spend and only carrying out essential work.
“In typical ‘Deritend’ fashion, we have met the difficulties head-on and worked closely with our clients to ensure this has been carried out safely, efficiently, on time and in budget. We are now seeing the benefit of this with inquiries up 20% and major orders being secured.”
He continued: “The Northumbrian Water contract, which could be extended to 2024, highlights the level of service we provide to the customer and how our multi-skilled team can offer response times that few in industry can match.”
Deritend Group, which recently passed its ISO:9001 and ISO:1090 audits with commendations, delivers a full turnkey service, working closely with clients from concept and design right through to assembly, testing and installation.
It boasts a design-led structural engineering department capable of offering a full range of bespoke highly compliant fabrication and machining services, with the 15,000 sq ft workshop equipped with a 10-tonne crane and a high-definition plasma cutting machine.
Continuous investment in the firm’s weld procedure matrix gives it the capability to handle different specifications, material thicknesses and positions, with semi-automation of the welding process providing greater efficiency and quality.
Mr Brown continued: “There has also been a lot of interest in our mechanical department, which provides manufacture and overhaul services for industrial rotating equipment, such as gearboxes, pumps and motors.
“We provide a 24/7 service from collection and inspection through to reverse engineering of components and the supply of fully overhauled ‘production critical’ items delivered back to site as efficiently as possible in the required timescale.”
He concluded: “Large companies like British Steel, PD Ports, Spartan and JN Bentley all count on us for essential maintenance and engineering services and these types of high-profile customers are the ones we will be targeting going forward."
Deritend Group employs over 100 people across its three facilities in Luton, Middlesbrough and West Bromwich.