Pictures: Apprentices on the shopfloor at Quest Precision EngineeringA fast-growing Dundee manufacturer is making its mark on the global energy sector, and its success is driving job creation and skills investment at home.
Quest Precision Engineering (Quest), based in Wester Gourdie, has gone from just seven to a team of 32 in six years, and this includes six local apprentices. The business, which produces specialist precision-machined components, now exports parts for major energy projects in Norway, Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.
Founded in 2018, Quest has since grown its annual turnover to more than £8 million, following demand from international customers. To keep up, the firm has invested more than £6 million into its Dundee site, upgrading machinery, expanding capabilities and creating skilled jobs for locals. Its most recent purchase is a cutting-edge Nakamura JX-200 machine, funded by a six-figure finance package from Bank of Scotland. The new equipment will enable the business to manufacture complex parts more efficiently allowing the team to take on more projects.
Away from the factory floor, the firm is a key part of the local community. Quest’s managing director Gordon Deuchars, who grew up in the city, founded Dundee East Community Sports Club 20 years ago to give young locals better access to sport. Today, the grassroots football club supports over 1,000 players aged 4 to 70 each week across more than 30 teams and runs regular training programmes for local schools and hosts community soccer camps during the school holidays.
Mr Deuchars said: “We are a fast-moving, dynamic business — if we spot an opportunity to grow, we take it. With the support of
Bank of Scotland we have been able to secure the right machines when available, and that agility helps us stay competitive and keeps our customers satisfied. This new machine will allow us to bring in another three or four employees to help run production and support the testing and assembly of part of our business.
“Growing our own talent has always been important to us. There is increasing demand, and we are planning further investment, development and hopefully a larger team. Dundee has always been our home, and we are proud to be expanding from here, showcasing what Scottish engineering can achieve on the global stage.”
Moira Robertson, a relationship manager at the Bank of Scotland, said: “Gordon and the team at Quest are everything you would hope for in a local success story - ambitious, innovative and deeply rooted in their community. Whether it is creating skilled jobs or helping young people launch their careers, they are making a lasting impact in Dundee and beyond. We are proud to be part of their journey and look forward to supporting them as they grow their global footprint.”