A SMALL Scottish supplier of specialist chemicals to the oil and gas industry is aiming to achieve annual turnover of £10million-plus in the next few years.
Aubin – which wins most of its business in foreign markets – is also planning to add to the workforce at its Ellon base.
The firm’s plans were outlined by managing director Paddy Collins yesterday as he revealed that turnover in the year to the end of July had jumped by more than 30% to £4.3million.
Aubin, established in 1987, designs, develops, manufactures and supplies high-quality cementing and stimulation chemical technology for a wide range of oilfield applications.
Mr Collins said the company was on target for turnover of £5.7million during the current financial year and then rise to more than £10million within three years.
He said sales could be markedly higher following commercialisation of further new products.
Mr Collins said Aubin, which has a team of 18, had ambitious plans for further expansion in future, particularly through exports which already account for more than 80% of sales.
Aubin said it had a strong track record in the Middle East and north Africa, where its specialist chemicals are used by clients including major national oil companies.
Further growth is expected through additional sales in countries such as Libya and Iraq, plus the Americas, Africa and Australia.
Mr Collins said: “We have an excellent, talented team and a growing reputation for clever solutions.
“Our customers view us as technical partners and this has resulted in the creation of long-term business relationships based on trust and mutual respect. We work hard to make sure that our products are consistent, reliable and fit for purpose.
“We have invested heavily in research and development and creating new products over the last few years which we are now starting to bring to market. We have built a successful business, with profits running at around 10% of turnover even during challenging economic conditions, and we expect our new products to have a transformational effect on Aubin.”
He added that demand for cement and stimulation products had been strong, with additional business from existing customers, while reorganising product lines to create a focus on pipeline pigging and cleaning products had won Aubin work all over the world.
Charlie Stewart, director of company growth at Scottish Enterprise, said: “We have a strong working relationship with Aubin and have assisted with the development and support to implement its growth strategy. Aubin is a great example of a Scottish company that has developed distinctive products and realised the potential of working internationally.”