Subsea buoyancy, insulation and elastomer product specialist, Balmoral Offshore Engineering, declared plans for a new Brazilian manufacturing facility during the annual Subsea Tieback Forum being held in San Antonio, Texas, this week.

Already exporting more than 95% of manufactured goods from its Aberdeen HQ, the company is completing the incorporation of its Brazilian division, Balmoral Offshore Brasil Ltda. A number of locations for the facility are being considered with a final decision expected in a matter of weeks.

It’s thought that the multi-million pound investment could create up to 100 local jobs with expertise from the Aberdeen operation being drafted in to assist with plant commissioning.

The new facility will manufacture the company’s complete range of products from the largest deepwater riser buoyancy and insulation systems to the smaller, more intricate, elastomer mouldings such as bend stiffeners, restrictors and cable protection.

International business development director, Jim Hamilton, said: “Having successfully provided deepwater buoyancy and elastomer products for a number of projects offshore Brazil, we believe the time is right to commit to local production. We plan to build on our core value of enhanced customer service in this important market.

“The plant, which will be strategically located to service the South American sector, will replicate our multi-purpose facility in Aberdeen which has proved to be such an operational success in terms of flexibility and capacity. We anticipate the new facility being in full production by the first quarter of 2012.

“As a company we are dedicated to cost effective technology-led solutions for the deepwater oil and gas sector and are pleased to bring this expertise to the Brazilian market.”

Tags: Balmoral Offshore Engineering