By Martin Walker
Fast-growing Newton Aycliffe subsea technology experts Tekmar Energy has announced plans to explore the emerging North American offshore market.
The company, which is in the process of moving into the 90,000 sq. ft. former Tetley’s factory on Aycliffe Business Park, has announced an agency agreement with the Massachusetts-based Whitman Consulting Group Inc (WCG).
Beginning immediately, WCG will represent Tekmar, which provides cable protection systems to the global oil, gas and renewables industries, as its commercial services agent for the full line of Tekmar products and services in the US, Canada and the Caribbean.
WCG will focus on the offshore renewable energy markets for wind and marine hydrokinetic as well as oil and gas and high voltage offshore transmission.
Tekmar last year increased its workforce from 70 to 100 and announced plans to grow turnover from £22m to £50m over the next three years.
“North American projects are finally underway and the Whitman Consulting Group has the experience and expertise we were looking for to ensure we will be well represented in this important market,” said James Ritchie (pictured above), Tekmar’s Chief Executive Officer.
“We look forward to working with WCG in ensuring that project developers identify and avoid the common issues and risks related to their cable systems by protecting their cable investment properly.”
Issues related to cables are commonly cited as major areas of concern for offshore project installation and system maintenance.
Tekmar has an excellent established track record of success having worked on over 27 major offshore wind farms and supplied over 3,000 systems since its entry into the market with its TekLink system which has revolutionised the connection and protection of subsea power cables.
“We want to see a best-of-breed supply chain develop here in the US,” said Joel Whitman, Principal of the WCG.
“We are very familiar with Tekmar as a result of our work over the years in the European offshore wind and transmission markets.
“Through our agreement, we aim to establish local business relationships in the US which can grow as the market here expands over time.
“We believe that is a low-risk way to begin development of a high-quality US supply chain.”