Nearly 30 jobs have been saved following a sale of the business and assets of an Aberdeen firm which collapsed into administration in January.
The lifeline for all 27 workers at oil and gas services company Uniconn, spread across two sites in Dyce and one at Kinellar, has come through the acquisition of all four divisions by fellow Aberdeen firm OEM Group in a £1million-plus deal.
OEM, which is headquartered in Altens and also has operations in the Middle East and Australia, is a single source provider of engine servicing and spare parts, fuel conditioning, starting systems and electrical and instrumental services.
Its deal to buy Uniconn – a supplier of rental equipment, manufacturing, testing, repair and inspection for the energy sector – is expected to lead to the acquired operations diversifying into torque, machining, servicing and rental actvities.
The move has doubled OEM’s staff numbers overnight, with Uniconn’s whole workforce transferring to the new owner under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, with immediate effect.
Acquired operations will continue to trade under the Uniconn name but as an OEM Group company, with all business relocating from Uniconn’s existing three premises to a facility at Badentoy Park, Portlethen.
OEM founder and managing director Barry Park said: “We recognised an opportunity to diversify into new markets, and Uniconn had a strong skillset and client base that complemented our current offering.
“Adding in these four divisions and offering a lifeline to the 27-strong team will offer additional services to our current clients and bring new clients into our existing business.”
He added: “Our global presence gives us the ability to find new opportunities and markets previously untapped by Uniconn.”
OEM now consists of the UK business, OEM Middle East, OEM Diesel (Australia) and Uniconn, which was launched by David Clark in 1998, initially as a rental firm before it expanded into torqueing and pressure testing.
