Aberdeenshire company wins top award after marine and aero engine gains

AN Aberdeenshire business which has diversified to combat the impact of the oil and gas downturn has won a top Scottish engineering award.

RWG (Repair & Overhauls) of Dyce, a joint venture between Aberdeenbased oil services company Wood Group and German giant Siemens, won Scottish Engineering’s top award, for the “manufacturing company that has done most to promote the industry in the past year”.

Industry body Scottish Engineering highlighted RWG’S diversification in the marine engine overhaul and aerospace markets.

It also cited the part which RWG’S apprenticeship scheme was playing in the company’s progress.

Scottish Engineering said: “After being affected by the recent downturn in the oil market, RWG was energised to diversify their approach and developed a marine engine overhaul capacity, taking on MOD [Ministry of Defence] contracts for the Navy’s Type 45 destroyers.

“The centre has also seen growth through securing business in the aerospace market.”

Scottish Engineering added: “The turnaround in business has been facilitated by the fact that many of RWG’S 500 highly skilled workforce have benefited from the company’s apprentice training scheme.”

Paul Sheerin, chief executive of Scottish Engineering, said of RWG: “They … have demonstrated resilience to diversify their customer base substantially since the downturn in the oil and gas sector – something indeed many oil and gas sector companies have achieved to sustain their businesses.”

Four President’s awards for outstanding achievement were presented by Scottish Engineering to Fife Fabrications of Glenrothes, Thales UK of Glasgow, Progress Rail Services of South Queensferry, and aircraft engine systems company Woodward Inc, which has operations at Prestwick. The Scottish Engineering/incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow award was won by Greg Stark of BAE Systems Naval Ships in Glasgow. A runner-up award was presented to Stephen Welsh of Technipfmc in Dunfermline.