Energy services firm RBG said yesterday that international expansion and key contract wins had sustained its growth in 2008.
The Aberdeen-based company provides fabric maintenance, construction support and related services to the oil, gas and petrochemical industries worldwide.
Its new chief executive, Dave Workman, who was appointed this month, said after the company released results for 2008: “An increase in business throughout the group, together with an expansion of our geographical footprint and service portfolio meant that RBG’s performance during 2008 continued to be strong.
“We have of course, like most companies, been impacted by the global economic downturn, but with increased efficiencies and effectiveness in place we are in a strong position moving forward.
“2010 is shaping up to be an exciting year for RBG with new contracts in place, new partnerships delivering additional capability and further growth of our operations.”
Latest accounts submitted to Companies House show a 16% rise on the year before in group operating profits (before exceptional costs) to £16.1million in 2008, and turnover for the year reaching £311.5million, an increase of more than 21% on the previous year.
RBG said international expansion had included the acquisition in Trinidad and Tobago of a bolting and machining company and investment in a new blasting and painting shed, adding new capabilities as well as significant capacity to operations.
It added that key scaffolding, painting and passive fire protection contracts were won in Kazakhstan, where the group also won its first non-destructive testing inspection contracts.
In the US, the group’s manpower resources division had a particularly strong year due to high levels of activity in the alternative energy sector, RBG added.
It said international growth was underlined with a number of key domestic contract wins.
In the North Sea, two prestigious fabric maintenance contracts were awarded, generating a combined total of more than £45million worth of business annually for the company.
RBG, which has its headquarters at Dyce, employs 5,000 people throughout principal areas of energy exploration and production globally.