Husband and wife-run ITC Hydraulic Services has its sights set on growth after more than doubling the footprint of its north-east base.
The firm, based at St Katherines, between Fyvie and Oldmeldrum, has spent £200,000 adding an extension to its workshop, modernising its offices and adding new equipment, including a five-tonne crane.
ITC, founded by former Sparrows hydraulic technician Ian Clark in 1999, is hoping the investment, half self-funded, will mean it can grow its oil and gas business and take on more staff.
Mr Clark, whose wife, Tracy, joined the business full-time two years ago, said he also hoped to move into the renewable-energy sector.
The firm already provides hydraulic packs and associated parts – including pumps, motors and valves – to the oil and gas, agriculture, construction, waste and recycling and industrial sectors, in addition to carrying out refurbishment work.
“In the past two years, it became apparent to me we were running out of room,” said Mrs Clark, adding: We could either keep plodding on the way we were or build an extension, expand and build the company up.
“Our new mission now is to employ more people.”
Mr Clark said: “We haven’t just tied ourselves to oil and gas, we do work for fishing, construction and waste and recycling industries.
“Renewables is the next target.”
Annual turnover for the business is now back to what it was in 2009, before a downturn, at just over £1million.
A strong first quarter has fueled hopes of £1.5million turnover in the current trading year.
ITC has 10 staff, working onshore and offshore, including an apprentice taken on this year, and is looking at recruiting a graduate engineer to help with design specifications.