The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
£31 million Centre of Excellence to create 100 jobs in Montrose.
First Minister announces funding for new Centre of Excellence in Angus town
Plans for a £31 million Centre of Excellence in Angus that will create 100 jobs were unveiled yesterday.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a £4.9m Scottish Enterprise grant to aid Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE), establishing the centre which will focus on subsea innovation in Montrose.
The global oilfield services company plans to construct a 4,000 square metre building and expand a warehouse at its 35-acre Charleton Road site as part of the investment.
BHGE said the centre’s test and assembly, research and development and workforce training facilities will be among the most advanced in the world.
The improvement work is currently under way and due to be completed early next year.
It will pioneer state-of-the-art manufacturing processes such as virtual reality tools, industrial 3D printing, sensor-equipped machinery that will enable manufacturing updates and test results in real time and laser measuring devices.
Research and development activities will focus on bringing new technologies to market that reduce costs, enhance productivity and lower the carbon footprint of oil and gas operations in some of the world’s most demanding offshore and onshore environments.
Graham Gillies, vice-president of BHGE, said subsea equipment designed and manufactured at this facility will support oil and gas activity worldwide.
He said: “We are investing in our facilities globally and our collaborative approach with Scottish Enterprise is a strong example of how we are supporting a more sustainable future for this industry.
“Subsea technology is undoubtedly one of the UK’S greatest export success stories, with industry-leading technology and solutions being designed and manufactured here and installed across basins worldwide.”
He said the centre would help develop ways to reduce costs and increase productivity”.
“We also need to develop the skills of our existing workforce and bring on the future generations to adopt to the new ways of working demanded by a pioneering digital manufacturing environment,” he added.
The first minister announced the plans during her keynote speech at the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service conference in Cumbernauld.
She said the government funding would support training and R&D activity at the new centre.
“I welcome the ambitious plans by BHGE to create a world-leading subsea
centre of excellence in Montrose, supported by Scottish Government funding,” she said.
“This facility will bring new jobs and investment to Scotland. As one of the most advanced centres of its type in the world, it will underline our international reputation for oil and gas innovation, developing the products and services the industry needs for the future.”
BHGE, which has its headquarters in Houston, Texas, is one of the world’s largest oil field services companies with annual revenues of $17 billion.
Paul Lewis, managing director of Scottish Enterprise, said: “We are pleased to be able to support this exciting project which is testament to BHGE’S vision and ambition, and the company’s skilled and talented workforce here in Scotland.”
However Friends of the Earth Scotland criticised the investment.
Head of campaigns Mary Church said: “It is very disappointing to see the first minister claiming climate leadership one minute and announcing support for companies taking oil and gas exploration to its riskiest limits the next.
rmclaren@thecourier.co.uk
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This facility will underline our international reputation for oil and gas innovation. FIRST MINISTER NICOLA STURGEON