Showcases / Malakoff showcase: Staying ahead of the game
More than 100 years after it was first established, marine engineering company Malakoff is keeping up with the times.
Last summer the Shetland firm became the first business in the isles to comply with the latest European regulations for fabricated structural steelwork.
The CE (Conformité Européenne) mark demonstrates compliance with the highest manufacturing standards within the EU and from 1 July 2013, under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), it became mandatory for manufacturers to apply CE marking to any of their construction products.
Despite this awareness of the new regulation within the construction industry is still surprisingly low, according to project manager Lewis Grant.
“We are helping spread awareness of the regulations, because everyone along the supply chain has responsibilities to ensure the final product fully compliant,” he said.
“It is now a legal requirement that any steel product and any steel fabricated product used in construction or civil engineering has to be CE marked.”
Malakoff has been approved to provide that level of certification.
Of the four execution classes within the regulation, Malakoff is accredited up to class 3, which includes higher risk civil engineering products.
The accreditation is essential for the company’s ongoing contract to maintain the council-owned jetties at the Sullom Voe Terminal.
The maintenance work has provided Malakoff with a steady flow of work since the year 2000, when the company won their first three year contract on the jetties.
Last year, the company undertook one of it’s largest projects at Sullom Voe by manufacturing and installing a replacement fender system for oil tankers berthing at the port.
Speaking about their achievement, director Dougie Stevenson, said: “Apart from being a legal requirement for a number of our projects, including our contract with Shetland Islands Council at Sullom Voe, the accreditation represents an important stage in our drive towards continuous improvement in our manufacturing and construction processes.”
“Malakoff have made significant investments of both time and resources to get to this point and I’m delighted that we are now able to offer this level of certification locally.”
SIC port engineer Andrew Inkster said the ongoing jetty maintenance work was a crucial part of keeping the port of Sullom Voe operating. Around 200 tankers use the four jetties every year.
Mr Inkster said: “With the future of the terminal now secure for the foreseeable future, the challenge of keeping the jetties in a serviceable condition for an extended period should not be underestimated.
“We demand that our contractors work to the highest standards in this environment, and Malakoff’s commitment to quality in the work they do for us is of great benefit to all involved in the safe operation of the harbour and terminal at Sullom Voe.”
Keeping up with the times and maintaining the highest standards remain the company’s trademarks after a management buyout in 2003.
Since then the company directors have worked hard to diversify a business that started out as a blacksmith and boat builder more than 100 years ago.
As well as operating slipways in Lerwick and Scalloway, Malakoff also provides:
- Structural and Marine Fabrication and Welding;
- Marine Civil Engineering;
- Mechanical and Electrical Engineering;
- Inshore Diving Services which are both Lloyds and DNV Approved for In Water Hull Surveys;
- Boat Building including their MCA type approved “Voe Boats”;
- A range of Inspection and Test Services including MPI, LPI, Lifting Equipment Inspections, IDEST Cylinder Testing and Fire Extinguisher Testing;
- Engineering Stores and Ships Chandlery.
In addition to their works at the Port of Sullom Voe, the company has successfully completed a range of complex and diverse local projects including:
- Walls and Fetlar Pier Developments as a Sub Contractor of Frank L Johnston (Shetland) Ltd;
- Manufacture and Installation of a Replacement Nitrogen Generating Plant for the Sullom Voe Power Station;
- The Design and Construction of the MV “Havra” for the NAFC Marine Centre;
- The Design, Installation and Maintenance of the Foula Electricity Renewables Scheme.
Malakoff has also been involved in major renewable energy projects outside Shetland, such managing the installation of the Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm, off the coast of Suffolk.
Between 2007 and 2009 around three quarters of the company’s work was outside Shetland.
“That has now reversed because the work is here in the islands,” Mr Stevenson said.
He added that Malakoff was always looking to expand its services and was looking for feedback from its customers old and new.
The company can be contacted at Malakoff Limited, North Ness, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0LZ, Tel: 01595 69 5544 or
Website: www.malakofflimited.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Malakoff
Twitter: @Malakoff_Ltd
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