DUCO are Energy Sector's Top Firm

12 December 2011

Subsea specialist DUCO landed the Company of the Year honour at the annual NOF Energy awards dinner.

The Newcastle firm has spent more than 30 years supplying umbilical systems for the subsea sector, and was named company of the year in 2006.

DUCO is part of energy industry project management, engineering and construction company Technip, which has four manufacturing sites in Newcastle, Houston, Lobito in Angola and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The company’s marketing manager Tom Nightingale said: "We are delighted to win the NOF Energy Company of the Year award. It reflects the skills and innovations we have developed together with the hard work and commitment of our team.

"This is the second time we have won this award in recent years, which demonstrates the consistent quality of products and service we deliver to our customers.”

NOF Energy is the UK’s business development organisation for oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewables, and celebrated this year’s event at the Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield. The organisation is based in Durham City, and has nearly 400 members across the UK.

Other awards handed out on the night included the Innovation and Technology prize, which was given to Stocksfield’s IHC Engineering Business for its work on the creation of the Saipem J-Lay Tower. The tower was created to allow the installation of large diameter pipelines in depths of up to 3,000m.

Darchem Engineering won the Best International Business award for its growth in exports, achieved through an increased presence in oil and gas, nuclear, aerospace, marine and automotive.

The New Talent award went to 29-year-old Steven Rooney of Heerema Hartlepool, who has become the lead welding engineer at the company.

He said: "It is a fantastic honour to receive this prestigious award from NOF Energy and it’s wonderful to have your hard work recognised.”

The event also featured entertainment from Chas Hodges of Chas ‘n’ Dave, and an after-dinner speech by Brendan Healy.

George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF Energy, said: "The energy sector supply chain is a jewel in the crown of British industry and the UK economy.

"The NOF Energy Awards recognises the continuing excellence being demonstrated by companies within the supply chain and rightly celebrates their achievements.

"The NOF Energy Annual Awards and Dinner is one of the most anticipated events in the energy sector calendar. Thanks to our headline sponsors; Wilton Group, Mech-Tool Engineering and Ward Hadaway, together with the support of our members, everyone had a wonderful evening celebrating our exceptional and innovative industry.”