Aberdeen firm which lights up shipyards and distilleries goes global after million-pound investment

A North-east firm whose lighting systems are used in shipyards, refineries and distilleries is thinking global after investing £1 million in new product design.

Scot Borland, managing director of Aberdeen-based BME, has high hopes for his industrial lighting products. Picture: Rory Raitt

BME Nitech, which is part of Aberdeen-based BME Group, said its UK-designed and manufactured systems have taken more than three years to develop. It is now a provider to North Sea operators, shipyards, refineries, distilleries, emergency services, the aerospace industry and other sectors.

In recent weeks, the firm has experienced a “sharp rise” in demand, including an order from a client in south-east Asia involving the supply of 500 lights.

The company said its line-up of portable and temporary lighting products has also been subject to higher demand as firms look to manage issues around the pandemic.

Managing director Scot Borland said: “A tremendous amount of effort has gone into bringing our British designed and manufactured solution to market.

“We did a great deal of research and development and talked to end users to ensure that each aspect – power output, beam angle, product weight and battery life – was the best it could be. We are extremely proud of the result.”

The firm has been busy developing a “market-leading” light for use in hazardous areas and an improved product for industrial markets.

Borland added: “The Nitech product received positive feedback from the North Sea clients but there was disappointment that there wasn’t a Zone 1 option.

“The feedback also mentioned that the industry was crying out for a new innovative product to challenge the existing suppliers. I decided to buy the company with a view to making everything about a very good product even better.

“It has taken much longer than I anticipated, largely due to testing and certification by industry experts, but it had to be right.

“We’ve had requests from all over the world as companies and organisations realise the innovation’s capability and benefits. We believe we are offering something that’s long overdue – a better quality, fit-for-purpose, safer solution.

“There is huge scope for us not just in the North Sea but globally. We’re now ready to push on and hopeful that 2021 will be a big year for us.”

The firm is in talks with a number of companies to agree international distributor agreements.

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