News: Robson appoints new chair

Robson Handling Technology, specialists in providing end-to-end handling solutions has appointed South Yorkshire entrepreneur, Julie Kenny CBE as chairman.

Sheffield-based Robson is a fourth-generation family owned UK handling technology provider and is a specialist provider of bulk handling systems for the sugar, cement and glass, recycling environmental, quarry and mining industries, and a specialist in the manufacture and installation of airport baggage handling systems and airport conveyors.

Rotherham-based RJD Engineering Ltd, which provides heavy engineering design and fabrication products and services to clients throughout the UK, joined the Robson Group in the 1980s.

Julie brings with her a wealth of experience from an impressive working background. In her early years Julie forged a successful career as a litigation lawyer before changing direction and founding £30m turnover Rotherham manufacturer Pyronix Limited, which she sold in 2016. Along her journey, in recognition of her contribution to business in the region Julie received a CBE and Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University.

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Julie takes the reins from outgoing Chairman Bill Speirs, who made a significant contribution to shaping the future of the business. Keen to build on this, Julie said "Robson is grateful for the contribution made by Bill and thanks him. The outstanding customer focus, reputation for innovative solutions and unique group expertise with Robson Site Service and RJD Engineering provide an exciting and excellent opportunity."

Jeff Hudson, CEO of Robson, added: "To attract someone of Julie's calibre is testament to the strength and potential of Robson in its markets. With a CBE to her name, along with being the Vitalise Businesswoman of the Year in 2013 and PWC Private Businesswoman of the Year 2014 Julie will be a great asset to Robson, continuing to drive the business forward – further improving the solutions and services that we offer."

Kenny is currently a commissioner at Rotherham Council, on the private sector board of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnsership and involved with the preservation of Wentworth Woodhouse and a host of other local charities.

Robson Group website

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News: RJD handles oil rig contract

Rotherham-based RJD Engineering has played a critical part in a £3.1m oil rig project and helped the Robson Group secure a repeat order.

Based in Sheffield, Geo Robson & Co (Conveyors) is a specialist provider of bulk handling systems for the sugar, cement and glass, recycling environmental, quarry and mining industries, and a specialist in the manufacture and installation of airport baggage handling systems and airport conveyors.

Robson has added another industry to their portfolio by successfully completing systems for the offshore oil exploration industry.

A repeat order was the reward for completing a £3.1m project, which involved the fabrication and build of a pipe handler conveyor and crane. The pipe handler plays a critical role within a deep sea oil rig drilling system, ensuring that the drill pipe sections, up to five metres in length and weighing up to four tonnes are transferred safely to and from the drilling platform.

Destined for the Norwegian oil fields, the pipe handler was fabricated at Hellaby in Rotherham by Robson's sister company, RJD Engineering, who ensured the structure met the critical weight limits that the customer required.

The system had to undergo stringent testing to meet complex standards for the Norwegian Oil Industry and meet the European ATEX Standards for Potentially Explosive Atmospheres.

RJD undertook the task of gaining the accreditation of the British and European Standard BS EN ISO 3834. Required mainly for the offshore and nuclear industries, the standard ensures the company meets the highest quality of welding, traceability and documentation.

Only a handful of UK companies currently hold the standard awarded by TWI (The Welding Institute), ensuring the Robson Group is one of the market leaders in this field.

RJD Engineering Ltd, joined the Robson Group in the 1980s. It employs 66 staff and enjoys a turnover of £8m.

RJD Engineering website

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News: RJD Engineering achieves prestigious welding certification

Rotherham firm, RJD Engineering has become one of a select few of UK companies to be awarded a prestigious welding accreditation.

The ISO 3834 Part 2 Award covers fusion welding of metals and is recognised by the achievement of certification to three governing bodies - TWI (The Welding Institute), EWF (European Welding Federation) and IIW (International Institute of Welding).

Based at Hellaby, fabricators and design engineers, RJD have clients from a diverse range of industries including the oil and gas industries, rail, construction, engineering industries, the water industry, process engineering, highways/roads, leisure industry, food and sugar industry, in retail hotels and shops and local authorities, plus the steel industry and glass industry.

Alan Powney, responsible welding coordinator at RJD said: "We are delighted to be one of a select few whose welding activities have been recognized in this way, we have always strived to improve our quality and this achievement should provide our clients with added confidence in RJD's welded fabrications."

Mike Howard, managing director at RJD added: "Our successful Certification indicates RJD's constant strive for improvement. We now feel we have a solid base to not only protect our existing Client base but to reach out into more diverse markets."

The accreditation was awarded by TWI Certification Ltd, a member company of The Welding Institute. TWI (Yorkshire) Ltd is pioneering new welding techniques from their premises on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.

RJD Engineering website
Rotherham

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News: South Yorkshire firms build massive offshore crane

For the past three months the skyline at Hellaby Industrial Estate has had a new figure. Standing over 25metres tall the Riser Gantry Crane has had a temporary home at RJD Engineering. A joint venture by Sheffield based Geo Robson & Co Ltd and its sister company RJD Engineering, the Riser Gantry crane has been designed and built for the Oil Exploration Industry. The final destination is the offshore Oil Rig, Olinda Star, Brazil. The crane was pre-built at Hellaby, Rotherham, to enable the hydraulic and electrical systems to be fully tested and proved. The large sections weighing as much as 65 tonnes, proved to be a very complex lift, the whole structure weighing in at a mighty 125 tonnes. Four huge mobile cranes had to be used to ensure the lift went without a hitch, with one goliath 500 ton, two 200 ton and one 75 ton cranes, all on site at the same time, with only a few feet between them, the Robson Site Manager Dave Parker stated, "Every move had to be planned well in advance and calculated to the inch, following strict health and safety procedures to ensure the safety of everyone on site." RJD Engineering fabricated all of the structural sections and provided all of the ancillary steelwork. Robson provided the mechanical systems for the crane, with all the electrical and hydraulic systems fitted in situ. Mike Howard, Managing Director of RJD Engineering, stated, "It was a huge challenge for all of the team, the success of this build shows that Sheffield and Rotherham still have some of the best engineering skills in the world." The two companies performance and professionalism impressed Shipley based TSC Offshore so much, that a follow up order was placed for additional offshore equipment and an enquiry for another Riser Gantry Crane to be built early in the New Year.

RJD Engineering website

Geo Robson website
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham firm wins five-star contract

Rotherham company RJD Engineering has won a multi-million pound contract to supply 1300 tonnes of structural steelwork for the Westminster Bridge Park Plaza Hotel, being constructed next to Waterloo Station in London. The engineering and fabrication specialist employs 70 people at their Hellaby factory and has secured a number of contracts for hotels in London as well as supplying structural steelwork for Ponds Forge, Supertram bridges and the refurbished Veolia power station.
RJD website
The Star article

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