Offshore Europe provided “good bang for the buck” this year despite reports that attendance was down from the prior event when oil was booming in 2013.
Howard Johnson, co-founder and managing director of Blaze Manufacturing Solutions, admitted that business for the Laurencekirk-based firm would be down by third this year when compared to last year.
The firm, which specialises in oil and gas fire safety protection systems, was exhibiting on the Scottish Pavilion which is spearheaded by Scottish Enterprise.
“A lot of the traffic has been exhibitor to exhibitor, but there’s a lot of vendor to vendor sales that go on. Today it has been quite solid all day long,” Mr Johnson said.
“On the first day we had at least half a dozen good solid leads that will result in business.
“If we had stayed in Laurencekirk would we have had those leads? No.
“It is a lot of time, energy and money as well. But we have made the most of the stand,” he added.
Business has been hit this year due to the downturn in spending across the North Sea but Mr Johnson said the firm has been able to maintain margins.
“We did £18million, this year we will probably be down to £11million to £12million this year. But while turnover down, the profit will be the same as we made some strategic changes in the business,” he said.
The company is also working on expanding its business and has found new work and joint ventures in Norway and Holland.
He said Blaze has also looking at expanding its offering into the renewables industry, where offshore wind would also benefit from its fire sensor and control equipment.
“It has stagnated in Aberdeen at the minute, we are looking to get into different markets.”
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