Middlesbrough-headquartered Hertel (UK), an experienced provider of mechanical and engineering services, officially acquired Kvaerner’s workshops at Wilton, alongside locations in Humberside and Grangemouth, on Friday, December 1, 2006.

The resulting company, renamed “Hertel Total Asset Management Ltd” to reflect the increasing scope and portfolio of its services, has since been enjoying the fruits of its labour, with employees and clients from both Kvaerner and Hertel facing minimal disruption.

All of the 160 people previously employed at Aker Kvaerner’s workshops, more than half of them based in the Tees Valley, have been transferred directly to Hertel, with the firm also being able to successfully retain Kvaerner’s extensive client base.

These clients, combined with Hertel’s own long-standing client list, means that the firm now have working relationships with almost all of the major companies on Teesside. Quite remarkable considering, less than a year ago Hertel offered no mechanical services in the East of the UK.

Dutch-owned Hertel now hopes to further enhance their UK operations, which were first developed in 1975, by investing up to an additional £4 million in new Tees Valley facilities and recruitment over the next five years. The company is already working closely with the Tees Valley Engineering Partnership on the recruitment and training aspects of this plan.

Steve Tonks, managing director of Hertel (UK) said: “Through the smooth transition from Aker Kvaerner to Hertel, we were able to safeguard the jobs of 160 highly skilled personnel in the Tees Valley and Humberside, preserving both their livelihood and the region’s collection of world-class engineering capabilities.

“This acquisition and pledge for future investment as a result of its success, marks our commitment to expanding our presence in the area, and bring significant benefits to our customers. “

Malcolm Potter, Manager of the Tees Valley Engineering Partnership, said: “Hertel’s successful takeover of Aker Kvaerner’s workshops, is testament to how Teesside Valley companies are working together to preserve the engineering industry and ensure it remains competitive and profitable in the years ahead. By rescuing a section of Kvaerner that would almost certainly have closed, Hertel have been able to expand their services and enhance the work on offer in this area.”