A £600,000 investment in new technology is at the centre of an expansion strategy into offshore energy markets by North Lincolnshire-based Crowle Wharf Engineers Ltd.
The company, which has facilities near Scunthorpe and in Worksop, has acquired a HNK horizontal borer and a co-ordinate measuring machine to increase its capacity for the delivery of machined components and refurbishment projects.
In particular, with the addition of the horizontal borer, CWE will build on its expertise in the refurbishment of offshore wind turbine gearboxes for the growing offshore renewables market.
Supplied by Sheffield-based Ward Hi-Tech Ltd, the borer was purchased with the aid of a grant from the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, while the second machine – supplied by QCT of Derby – attracted similar support from South Holland District Council’s Grants4Growth scheme.
Already boasting extensive experience in the offshore energy, nuclear and rail sectors, the new investments will support the company’s ambitions to increase turnover from £4 million to £7 million within the next three years and expand its 55-strong workforce.
It is also aiming to expand its apprenticeship programme with additional recruitment this year.
Founded in 1966, CWE, specialises in safety critical engineering for demanding environments in the UK and around the world. It is headquartered at Ealand, between Crowle and Scunthorpe.
Nick Andrew, operations director at CWE, said: “These capital investments support the continued diversification of our business as we increase capacity to secure additional work in markets such as oil and gas and the growing offshore wind sector.
“We are well-placed, both in terms of geography – with our facility in Scunthorpe being close to the east coast and the Humber – and our extensive engineering pedigree to support the offshore energy industries, particularly offshore wind.”
As such it is a member of the energy sector business development organisation NOF.
Paul Livingstone, business development manager at NOF, said: “Diversification within the supply chain is a crucial part of achieving a balanced energy mix and the investments made by CWE demonstrates its ambitions to play a larger role across the industry.
“The UK is developing strong clusters of supply chain companies to support projects in the offshore wind industry with businesses like CWE able to deliver specialist services that will assist essential operations and maintenance programmes on wind farm developments.”
