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Barrett Steel boosts investment by another £1m in new equipment for the offshore wind industry/bs059 / 29.05.14

Barrett Offshore Tubes, part of theBarrett Steel Group, has recently invested over £1m at its Scunthorpe site as part of the company's commitment to the renewable energy market, particularly the offshore wind turbine industry. The investment, which has resulted in the creation of six jobs, includes a 12 metre capacity loading system and an LT8 tube laser.

The 12 metre capacity loading system is unique to the Barrett Group, with other processors offering a maximum of 8.5 metre capacity. The Barrett system offers greater flexibility to customers at the design stage and allows larger finished components to be produced. The LT8 is the tenth tube laser commissioned at the Group, establishing Barrett Steel as one of the leading laser processors in Europe.

Robert Kirby, Commercial Manager, Barrett Offshore Tubes, explains the significance of the investment: "Barrett Offshore Tubes was launched in 2012 to provide a dedicated service to the offshore market for oil, gas and renewable energy sources. Barrett Offshore has already supplied to the Humber Gateway, an offshore wind farm of 73 turbines under construction in the North Sea, which will cover an area of 25 sq km.

"The combination of the larger-capacity loading system and the laser tube cutting facilities will help the company exploit the opportunities presented by the growth in manufacturing for offshore work. Part of our plans also includes coordinating with the Siemens/Hull Green Port offshore wind hub."

The LT8 is a state-of-the-art fully automatic multi-axis laser system which offers fabricators the opportunity to quickly and easily apply the concepts of ‘lean manufacturing' to the fabrication of metal tubes. It can be used to process round, square, rectangular and specially shaped tubes plus angle iron, channel and flat bar. Time savings can be up to 70% over traditional methods of cutting.

Robert Kirby continues: "The LT8 and the new loading system consolidate our expertise for the offshore wind turbine industry and other renewable energy markets, where high volumes and tight deadlines are the norm."

One of the UK's largest privately owned independent steel stockholders, Barrett Steel can laser profile large circular hollow sections, such as scalloping and weld preparations. Barrett stores and distributes hot formed and seamless material. Stocked grades include G13+N, G15+N and API X52 in addition to S355J2H. The company also offers customers the choice of buying either processed steel or the parent material, catering for the diverse needs of offshore fabricators.

More information is available from Chris Lamb at Barrett Steel, tel: +44 (0)1274 682281, email:chris.lamb@barrettsteel.com,www.barrettsteel.com

#ENDS#

Photos: Images show the LT8 tube laser, part of the Barrett Steel £1m investment in new equipment for the offshore wind industry. (Images available from Ros Nuttall,Chapelfield PR, email:rosalind@chapelfieldpr.com, tel: 07702 310743).

Editorial contact:
Ros Nuttall, Chapelfield PR, e:rosalind@chapelfieldpr.com
T: +44 (0)7702 310743, W:www.chapelfieldpr.com

Company contact:
Chris Lamb, Group Marketing Manager, Barrett Steel, e:chris.lamb@barrettsteel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1274 682281, W:www.barrettsteel.com

About Barrett Steel Ltd

Established in 1866 by Henry Barrett, Barrett Steel has expanded organically and by acquisition to become the UK's largest independent steel stockholder.

The Group now comprises 42 companies operating from 28 locations across the UK and is divided into four divisions: General Steels; Engineering Steels; Tubes; and International. Recent expansion has seen a stockholding and processing facility being opened in Houston, Texas.

The numerous steel stockholding companies and divisions operating across the UK serve customers worldwide, united in a forward-thinking philosophy, commitment to technological innovation and exacting customer service standards. Each company operates with the full backing and support of the Barrett Steel Group.

Barrett Steel's head office is located in Bradford, West Yorkshire, on the site where its nineteenth century founder, Henry Barrett, set up premises in 1910.

Barrett Steel operates to ISO: 9001 2008.

Issued by: Barrett Steel, Barrett House, Cutler Heights Lane, Dudley Hill, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD4 9HU
T. +44 (0)1274 682281, E:chris.lamb@barrettsteel.com, W:www.barrettsteel.com