AVT STOCKPORT BEGINS INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

Leading Stockport engineering firm, AV Technology, has expanded its operations in to South Africa and Ireland as part of its ambitious international growth plans.

The Cheadle Hulme-based consultancy, which specialises in condition-based maintenance services, was acquired by AES Engineering Group in January 2013 in a bid to open new markets worldwide.

It has now opened two offices in Cork and Belfast and an office in Johannesburg with engineers in Secunda, Cape Town and Sasolburg.

         Steve Mottershead, managing director of AV Technology, (left) said:

         “Since joining AES Group we have moved quickly to take advantage of
         its international connections and offer our services to its existing client
         base. Things have moved at pace and we’ve now been able to
         establish these two offices, with a third in the USA due to open in early
         2014.

         “We’re now working hard to build our customer base in these
         countries and looking to progress opportunities in other parts of the
         world, such as Asia and Europe.”

         Eric Bergin, head of the new Cork office, will lead the team at AVT
         Reliability (Ireland) Ltd and will build on the consultancy’s existing
         portfolio of food and beverage clients, as well as targeting the
         pharmaceutical market.

         Eric has over 25 years’ experience in the field and is the chairman of
         MEETA Society for maintenance and reliability practitioners in Ireland. Eric said:

“I’ll be using my wealth of consultancy experience to drive the business here and expand our client base. AV Technology has established itself as a leader in field for condition-based maintenance in industry and we will be looking to emulate that success in Ireland.”

Nico van Niekerk takes the helm in the South African operation, having previously worked for the AES Group for over eight years, and with over sixteen years in the engineering and reliability sector. Van Niekerk says: “AVT SA has already had some success in the power sector, and is targeting the petrochemical and mining sector of South Africa as well as food & beverage, leveraging AVT’s excellent position in Europe.”

The AES Engineering Ltd. Group is a British manufacturer of mechanical seals and support systems sold under the AESSEAL brand name with its head office in Rotherham. It operates from 77 sites in 37 countries, generating sales in over 100 countries.

The combined group expects sales in excess of £150 million in 2013 and it employs 1,555 people worldwide, with 650 based in the UK.

AVT Reliability aims to become the largest provider of condition-based maintenance services in Ireland and South Africa by 2016.

AV Technology (AVT) engineering focuses on asset integrity and performance and provide consultancy, services and training to manufacturers in all sectors; improving plant reliability, safety, cost and regulatory compliance.