Work has completed at Balmoral Comtec’s Montrose Port manufacturing facility for the offshore energy sector, with dozens of jobs to follow.
The Aberdeen-headquartered firm, which invested a seven-figure sum in the new-build facility, said 30-40 skilled and semi-skilled jobs will be created initially, with more expected as the business arm grows.
Balmoral Group said the investment from its subsidiary will help leading north-east businesses service the offshore industries like wind, wave and tidal more effectively.
Large-scale components for the offshore energy sector will be created at the 18,299 square-foot base.
These include huge composite structures for subsea protection, wave energy structures, manifold covers and wellhead protection equipment.
Balmoral Group, founded in 1980 by chairman and managing director Sir Jim Milne, already provides protection products, buoyancy and tethering solutions to the offshore wind industry.
With the new manufacturing site at Montrose, Balmoral will be able to deliver advanced composite products from shore to ship as the sector expands in water off Scotland and further afield.
Sir Jim said: “We are delighted to have reached this stage of our expansion at Montrose so quickly. The facility is operational now and we are completing product prototypes on site and hope to welcome clients to view our capabilities very soon.
“While the offshore renewables sector is moving apace this facility will also service the traditional offshore energy market with large scale advanced composites structures.”
Montrose Port already supports 400 jobs, worth £15m to the regional economy, and is actively involved in operations and maintenance (O&M) for the Seagreen windfarm, Scotland’s largest, on the Angus coast.
Also in the pipeline is the Inch Cape windfarm, with its O&M at Montrose to start in 2023.
Tom Hutchison, CEO of Montrose Port Authority, said: “Like us, Balmoral focuses on its team, knowing that its people are its greatest asset and so we are delighted to have them join our port community, creating new jobs for our town and boosting our regional economy.
“Balmoral’s services are greatly welcomed as they will attract new business to the Port within the current energy markets we already serve as well as the growing renewables sector, aligning with our ambition to position ourselves as a renewables hub for the region.”
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