Appointments Strengthen Management Team at Flowline Specialists

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06 February 2018

Scottish energy equipment manufacturer and service provider Flowline Specialists has recently expanded its senior management team with two appointments.

The Oldmeldrum-based firm has appointed Mike Jaffray to the role of operations manager, while Donald Walker has taken up the position of QHSE manager.  Both appointments will aid the firm’s continued growth across the energy industries in the UK and overseas.

Flowline Specialists designs, engineers and manufactures a range of cable and pipe handling and deployment equipment for use in the global energy industry.  Established in 2001, the firm has grown its business internationally, including opening a Middle East operations base in Dubai.  This growth and successful internationalisation strategy was recognised in 2016 when it received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

As operations manager Mike Jaffray is responsible for overseeing all of the firm’s operational activity.  This includes managing the mobilisation of equipment and personnel to client projects around the world and coordinating the workflow at Flowline Specialists’ two north-east workshops, located in Oldmeldrum and Fyvie.

Mike brings 16 years of energy industry experience to the role, having worked for two other rental equipment providers since he graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2001.  He will work with group operations manager Graeme Chalmers who, along with overseeing Flowline Specialists’ operational activities, manages the firm’s Middle East division.

Donald Walker joins Flowline Specialists with a wealth of experience built up in a career spanning three decades.  He started his career as a welder and fabricator and worked in the steel production, manufacturing and fabrication sectors for over 20 years, before spending the last decade in QHSE and technical support roles in the energy industry.

At Flowline Specialists he will lead the firm’s quality, health and safety and environmental function, ensuring procedures are planned, implemented, controlled and delivered in the optimum manner.  Alongside his industry experience, Donald holds MScs in Health, Safety and Environmental Management and Process Manufacturing Management, and is a member of both the Institute of Occupational Health and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

Jim Smith, CEO of Flowline Specialists, said: "Mike and Donald both bring fresh outlooks and a wealth of knowledge and experience to their respective roles at Flowline Specialists.  Their valuable contributions will help to shape the company going forward and support our planned international growth.

"Over the past year, we have invested in expanding our fleet of rental equipment with the addition of our bow cable engine and 15Te cable drum tensioner.  Both pieces of equipment were designed and manufactured in-house, something we are extremely proud of.  That capability has been strengthened with the appointments of Mike and Donald, and it is a pleasure to welcome them to the team.”