AN ABERDEEN company supplying gaskets to the oil and gas industry has opened its own manufacturing facility in the Granite City.
Alba Gaskets, was established by Ashley Smith and Brad Smith – unrelated – in October 2007.
Its founders each had about 20 years’ experience in gaskets to draw on when they took the bold decision to start their own company.
The firm is now eight months into its fourth year, with turnover for the whole 12 months expected to come to about £1.3million.
In its third year of trading, Alba Gaskets achieved sales totalling more than £1million.
Employee numbers have gone from the initial two to four and, due to increased business and contract wins, the company expects its workforce to double in size again by the year-end.
Sales and marketing director Gavin Sim said: “Alba Gaskets has grown substantially, mainly through word of mouth and gaining a reputation for offering good service.
“Part of our growth strategy has been to differentiate ourselves from older, more established gasket companies.
“We feel we have really found a gap in the market and are already winning new business off the back of our ability to manufacture material here in Aberdeen.”
The company has recently secured five-year frame agreements, with large oil operators, worth around £2million over the period.
