Tag Archives: oil

Engineering, News, South West England News

Duo acquire pioneering engineering company

A specialist manufacturing company which supplies trenchless technology equipment to sectors including water, oil and gas has undergone a buyout.

Business partners Graham Edden and Pat Farrell have acquired Brewis Engineering for an undisclosed sum. The transaction has been supported with financial backing from WeDo Business Services.

Brewis, based in Somerset, specialises in the design, development and manufacture of equipment for the trenchless technology industry worldwide. Its products are used in the laying of pipes and cables in the water, oil and gas and utility industries.

The company was founded in 1984 by Rod Brewis in his garden shed. He invented the Brewis towing head to pull pipes ranging in diameter from 25mm to 900mm.

Other products in the Brewis portfolio include high flow transmitter housings, directional drilling swivels with a pullback capacity of up to 550 tons, along with cable swivels.

Brewis, which has 16 staff and is based at 10,000sq ft premises on the Marston Trading Estate in Frome, exports across Europe, the United States and Canada as well as to New Zealand and Australia, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, South Africa and India.

Following the buyout, Graham and Pat have become managing director and commercial director of Brewis respectively.

The pair have a wealth of business experience. Pat has spent most of his working life in the trenchless and construction industries. Graham is a seasoned investor and business leader who has built and run companies across a variety of sectors, including automotive, hospitality and waste management.

The deal provides an exit for Rod and his wife Sheila, who was company secretary. Paula Fitch has retired as commercial director. Operations director Michael Rudd remains with the business.

Graham said: “Brewis Engineering is renowned and respected throughout the world for its innovative, market-leading products. Rod and the team have laid a tremendous platform for us to build on and capitalise on the opportunities for growth, especially in the US but also in other territories.

“With the help of our fantastic and loyal workforce, we are looking to expand our manufacturing capacity and develop new products to provide sustainable growth over the coming years.

“Some of the staff have been with the company for more than 25 years, having served their apprenticeships with us, and there is a wealth of knowledge, skillsets and ideas among the team for us to harness and achieve our goals.

“We have some of the best engineers in the world here in the UK. The country’s design and manufacturing sector has a bright outlook despite the challenging economic headwinds, and we are proud to be playing our part in flying the flag.”

Rebekah Middleton and Jim McDonnell at WeDo Business Services arranged a funding package to help facilitate the buyout.

The WeDo group has its headquarters in Greater Manchester and additional offices nationwide. It provides invoice and trade finance, asset finance, loans and start-up funding to a growing client base, as well as accountancy, HR, back-office and IT services.

Rebekah said: “We were pleased to provide a package which enabled Graham and Pat to swiftly complete the acquisition once they engaged us. The founders and vendors, Rod and Sheila Brewis, have traded very successfully for 40 years and we wish them, Graham and Pat and the entire team all the very best for the future.”

Graham added: “Rebekah and Jim did a fantastic job in helping us to successfully complete the transaction. They were thorough, and moved mountains to get things done.

“We are excited to be taking a prestigious brand in the trenchless technology sector forward, using our extensive business and sector experience to support our customers and seize new opportunities.”

David Gledhill, Rachael Killworth and Jenny Chapman, of the asset-based lending team at law firm Bermans, provided advice and support to WeDo regarding the legal documentation involved in the transaction.

James Young and Helen Carter at Harding Evans Solicitors, based in South Wales, advised Graham and Pat on the acquisition. Financial due diligence was carried out by Marcel Frei, of GMT Finances.

News

Duckhams celebrates 125 years of winning

The original British motor oil, Duckhams, celebrates its remarkable 125th anniversary in 2024. Founded in 1899 by the visionary Alexander Duckham, his enduring legacy, marked by a relentless winning spirit, has captivated engineers and enthusiasts for 125 years. Deeply rooted in the pioneering spirit of its founder, Duckhams exemplifies British ingenuity on a global scale—a legacy that continues to guide the brand today.

Duckhams has been inseparable from the very essence of engine oil throughout the 20th century. Breaking boundaries in the skies and on the ground, in 1909, Alexander Duckham achieved the first powered cross-Channel flight alongside Louis Blériot. In 1949, Duckhams powered Goldie Gardner’s MG to break the world land speed record.

In 1933, Duckhams introduced the industry’s first Synchromesh Gearbox oil, and in 1951, Duckhams launched the first multi-grade oil—the iconic green Q 20W-50, which transformed lubrication technology.

From conquering the British Motorcycle Championship in 1955 to recent triumphs at the OR BRIC Superbikes Championship in Thailand and the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain in 2023, Duckhams continues to earn accolades in motorsports, showcasing the pioneering spirit that defines the brand.

Duckhams’ new Global CEO, Mike Bewsey, said, “As we celebrate our illustrious history, our commitment to advancing our groundbreaking legacy remains unwavering. Since the brand’s successful relaunch in 2018, Duckhams has received strong support from distributors and partners across the UK and developed its global network, with products now available in twenty-seven countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Together with our partners, we’ll continue to lead with innovation and victories for the next 125 years.”

Appointments, News

New CEO for 125-year-old British brand Duckhams Oils

Duckhams, the original British motor oil since 1899, is pleased to welcome Mike Bewsey as its new CEO. With many years of experience managing multi-national lubricant brands, Mike has been appointed to lead the company through its next stage of global operations.

As Duckhams enters its 125th year, Mike will direct the iconic engine oil brand during a pivotal period in its development. “Duckhams is a great brand with a rich heritage, well-loved by mechanics and motorists,” Mike said. “Since its successful relaunch in 2018, Duckhams has received strong support from distributors and partners across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The brand is now available in twenty-seven countries, having doubled its global network over the past twelve months. The 125th anniversary is an incredible milestone, giving us a fantastic platform to celebrate everything Duckhams has achieved in 125 years of winning with drivers, workshops and distributors. It is an exciting time to be joining the Duckhams family.”

Mike began his automotive career at Unipart before becoming Sales & Marketing Director at Comma Oil and Business Unit Director at Moove Europe. Keen to support the broader lubricants industry, Mike served as Chairman of the UK lubricants organisation, the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS), from 2021 to 2023. He is currently President of the United Kingdom Lubricants Association (UKLA), leading their work to represent the lubricants industry in the UK and abroad, actively engaging with other trade associations and the UK and European Governments on matters impacting the lubricants industry.

Duckhams has a long history dating back to 1899 when Alexander Duckham first established his own oil company. His entrepreneurial, pioneering spirit has been at the company’s heart since then. Duckhams was responsible for the development of revolutionary new process oils that controlled the build-up of carbon deposits in the 1920s and launched the first synchromesh gear oil in the 1930s. In 1951, Duckhams introduced Europe’s first multigrade oil, an innovation which transformed lubrication technology forever.

Mike’s appointment comes after Rajat Moitra joined the business as Global Chief Marketing Officer, and Chris Clarkson became Global Technical and Procurement Officer at the end of 2023. These senior-level engagements have created a new leadership team with decades of experience leading multi-national lubricants brands.

With a motorsports legacy spanning over fifty years, Duckhams has sponsored winners in motorcycle racing, Formula 1, Formula 3, Formula Ford and the Porsche Carrera Cup. Duckhams-sponsored Jackie Ickx won the F1 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch in 1974, and in 1975, James Hunt won the Dutch Grand Prix in a Surtees. In 1981, Ari Vatanen became the World Rally Champion. Duckhams’ involvement with the Porsche Carrera GB Cup began in 2021 with a first victory by Duckhams driver Dan Cammish, followed by Adam Smalley’s victory in 2023. Duckhams are also OR BRIC Superbike 2023 champions in Thailand, solidifying their motorsports legacy.

Duckhams delivers high-performance engine oils formulated to keep engines of all ages moving. Their passenger and commercial vehicle lubricants are available in twenty-seven countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

News, Tech

CNOOC Petroleum Europe Limited selects Absoft to support its SAP S/4HANA data migration

CNOOC Petroleum Europe Limited (CPEL) has awarded Absoft, a dedicated SAP® consultancy, a contract for consultancy services to support the UK data migration activities from its existing SAP solution to SAP S/4HANA.

In order to migrate from its existing SAP solution to SAP S/4HANA, CPEL issued a Request for Quotation in Q4 2021 which consisted of multiple scopes of work, one of which being data migration services. 

The Absoft team, composed of expert SAP Consultants who bring over 100 years of combined experience to the project, will be engaged in delivering the full remit of data migration services across extraction, transformation, and loading throughout 2022. 

Don Valentine, Commercial Director, Absoft commented, “Absoft has extensive expertise and an impressive track record of delivering successful data migration projects into asset intensive businesses. Our proprietary DATAMA migration toolset has helped Absoft to shorten migration project timeframes and increase the quality of data migrated. We are delighted to be able to deploy our proprietary toolset and technical expertise into CPEL’s data migration project.”

News

Path of renewable transition should not be breached in the name of war

Written by Kunal Sawnhey, Kalkine Media

The escalation of the war between Ukraine and Russia has made energy security a major topic of discussion for many countries. Europe, which is highly dependent on gas imports from Russia is going to float a proposal to pace up the clean energy transition and reduce its dependence on natural gas imports forever.

Britain, at the same time, has announced that the nation need not worry about the lower supplies with Russian shipments getting slashed. Business Secretary Kwarteng’s statement that Britain does not have to worry about the decline in supplies, but the prices are true. The UK is fortunate to have its majority of gas supplies coming from the North Sea, with reliance on Norway for import. However, the benchmark for UK gas prices is the prevailing price in the continent, so the impact will soon be visible on the household energy bills.

Green transition to take a hit

Britain boasting the North Sea as the single largest source of its gas is going to have a severe impact on its net-zero target. There are plans to expand oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. It was reported that Chancellor Rishi Sunak had urged the Business Secretary to speed up the licenses for six new oil and gas fields in the region. The government may be of the view that stopping domestic production in such an uncertain world can raise the gloom as far as energy security is concerned but transition away from fossil fuels is going to take a big hit.

In the long run, Britain’s present emphasis on fossil fuels may present a higher risk as gas is more expensive than renewables, and sustainable energy security can come from renewables only. Barely a few months back, during COP26 climate conference, where there was a global agreement to accelerate action on climate change, UK’s action can raise doubt about its intentions to renewables transition.

Dependence on gas can be reduced by renewables

There has been a continuous increase in oil and gas prices, and with fears that Russia may try to restrict supplies of natural gas in response to additional rounds of sanctions, there could be a further rise in prices. Gas contributes a good over 20 per cent of Europe’s electricity generation 35 per cent of total Russian gas imports. EU’s vow to transition to renewables is undoubtedly going to help, as historically it has been seen that renewables have helped in replacing gas more than coal.

If the right policy framework is put in place, its impact can be seen in just 4-5 years though not immediately. The International Energy Agency (IEA) in its latest release, has come up with a ten-point plan, suggesting ways to reduce reliance on Russian gas by a third in just one year. It may be too early to comment, but one of its plans of the deployment of new wind and solar projects can be focused on. It has worked for both types of countries, with high solar potential and with low solar potential equally, supported by clear government policies.

The UK needs to reduce its dependence on North Sea

The country may increase its dependence on the North Sea with six new licences soon, but the consumers may continue facing the brunt of high energy prices as the privatisation of UK supplies in the North Sea has linked the prices to the international rates. This could result in higher prices for British consumers when the gas is not getting imported from Russia. Its reduction of demand for gas can actually work for the UK in the long run while remaining on the renewable path.

Energy

UK reduces its oil imports by over 75 million barrels in five years

The UK has reduced its oil imports by more than a fifth (21%) in five years, a new online tool from Daily FX has revealed.

While the country remains the 12th biggest global importer of oil, including petroleum oils, it has taken great strides towards reducing its reliance on such environmentally-harmful fuels.

Between 2013 and 2018, the UK had the eighth-best rate in Europe for reducing such imports, with its intake dropping by 76.9 million barrels (from 359 million to just over 280 million).

Malta (93%) and the Republic of Moldova (92%) experienced the most significant decreases across the continent.

The data has been visualised on a new interactive tool built by Daily FX, the leading portal for forex trading news, which displays global commodity imports and exports over the last decade.

The tool shows that China has recently overtaken the USA as the world’s biggest importer of oil. The Asian giant imported nearly 3.4 billion barrels in 2018, which was over 240 million more than the USA. China tops the list having increased its oil imports by 64% since 2013 – nearly six times the rate of its rival (11%).

The top 10 global importers of oil (2018) are:

  • China – 3.38 billion barrels
  • USA – 3.14 billion barrels
  • India – 1.65 billion barrels
  • Japan – 1.09 billion barrels
  • The Republic of Korea – 1.09 billion barrels
  • Germany – 622 million barrels
  • Netherlands – 506 million barrels
  • Italy – 460 million barrels
  • France – 397 million barrels
  • Singapore – 376 million barrels

Daily FX’s unique tool allows traders to spot developments in the flow of commodities and the growth of both supply and demand while comparing the changes to critical economic indicators.

One trend highlighted by the tool is the decreasing reliance on oil among African countries. Five of the world’s ten best nations at reducing oil imports are found on the continent, including the top four. Morocco, Kenya, Burundi and Gambia all decreased such imports by over 99%.

John Kicklighter, Chief Currency Strategist at Daily FX, said:

“The world is changing and so is the way that it uses energy. Renewable and environmentally-friendly fuel options are the future, and while the end of crude oil is still far off, there will be considerable changes in the world’s top importers and exporters. Our new tool helps track those changes.

“While some of the larger countries have increased their appetite, it is interesting from an investor’s perspective to see the UK exploring alternative energy sources and reducing its dependence on oil.”

‘Global Commodities’ takes the form of a re-imagined 3D globe where the heights of countries rise and fall to show the import and export levels of a range of commodities over the last decade. The data visualisation allows users to switch views from a single commodity or market and show information relevant to that commodity or market’s performance.

To learn more about Global Commodities and view the tool, visit: https://www.dailyfx.com/research/global-commodities