Oilfield specialist Glacier Energy Services formally opened the northeast base of its Wellclad business in Boldon – an investment worth more than GBP 325,000 – as part of a major growth plan. Jarrow MP Stephen Hepburn opened the office and workshop premises at Burford Way, Boldon, which cover some 15,000sqft. Wellclad, which is the focus of Glacier’s Engineering division, pioneered the use of Corrosive Resistant Alloy (CRA) weld overlay as a routine process for the “cladding” of alloy steels designed to improve the integrity and service life of critical oil and gas surface and subsea production components used in harsh service environments.
The move is the second major investment Glacier has made in north-east England in less than a year, following its Offshore division’s acquisition of Blyth-based Site Machining Services (SMS) in summer 2012 to complement its existing Roberts Pipeline Machining (RPM) technology business. SMS has since grown from 15 to 22 employees.
Mr George Leggate, Managing Director of Glacier Energy Services’ Engineering Division and co-founder of Wellclad said, “Securing this site has allowed us to focus on really pushing the business forward – bringing new jobs to the area and delivering an economic boost to Boldon through our investment.
