ACE Continues Global Growth with Completion of £2 million KCA DEUTAG Order
ACE Winches has successfully completed a £2 million manufacturing order for Marlin Offshore International Ltd (“Marlin”), and international drilling contractor KCA DEUTAG for the design, manufacture and commissioning of four replacement 75 tonne double drum anchor mooring winches and hydraulic power unit packages for Marlin’s self erect tender rig Searex X, currently operating in West Africa.
The contract, which was won against stiff international competition from both the USA and Norway, represents the single largest manufacturing order ACE has completed to date, and boosts the company’s manufacturing sales to over £4 million for the current financial year, an increase of 50% on 2008.
John Nichols, Mobile Rigs Equipment and Maintenance Manager for KCA DEUTAG said: “Our anchor mooring winches on the Searex X were scheduled for replacement and so we investigated the marketplace. We were very impressed with both the high quality standards and delivery dates offered by ACE Winches. We have some special requirements on Searex X which ACE has designed into the new winches and we are very pleased with their proposals. The winches have been delivered on time and on budget as promised.”
2009 has seen ACE Winches continue to pursue an effective international growth strategy despite the challenging economic climate. International sales have increased 77% on 2008 figures, and now account for 70% of the company’s total sales. This increase in growth has seen ACE employee numbers rise from 90 to 124 during the past year and the company is forecasting total manufacturing and hire sales of £12.5 million for 2009.
Alfie Cheyne, ACE Winches CEO, praised the efforts of his employees as key to the successful completion of the KCA DEUTAG manufacturing job: “Our dedicated employees have played a key role in ensuring ACE completed this bespoke manufacturing job on time and within budget. Staff and management are to be congratulated on their hard work. This approach is crucial in ensuring we continue to meet our client’s needs by providing superior quality products and services, and places us in a strong position to continue the growth of ACE Winches.”