Applus RTD UK: Leading Global Inspection and NDT Services

What began as a joint project for single tender submission has led to MB Inspection and Applus RTD, two of the biggest names in inspection services for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, joining forces to bring unrivalled inspection expertise to the global energy industry.

The UK’s leading inspection company, MB Inspection, now Applus RTD UK, offers a diverse range of inspection management, inspection engineering, specialist inspections, non-destructive testing, rope access, and mechanical testing services to clients drawn from the oil and gas, petrochemical, utility, and power generation industries.

With nearly 20 years of operational experience and over 350 staff in the UK, Applus RTD UK has gained a reputation for expertise, quality and safety. Furthermore, by combining the expertise of MB Inspection with Dutch-based inspection firm, Applus RTD, a leading provider of a wide range of non destructive testing (NDT) services and inspections including specialised pipeline testing, on-stream monitoring and scanning, detail inspection and data management to the global energy sector, the opportunity to establish a world-class provider of inspection and testing services was recognised.

With demand for specialist inspection services also outstripping supply, Applus RTD saw the opportunity to bring together the expertise of both companies, to meet demand with a much broader and more comprehensive service offering.

Renowned for its pioneering role in the technological development of new and existing NDT techniques and a dedicated research and development facility in Rotterdam, which continually aims to develop new NDT techniques for specific market areas, Applus RTD UK can deliver a first class, comprehensive, inspection and integrity management service to the global oil, gas and petrochemical markets.

An ongoing program of audits, internal reviews and regular meetings allows Applus RTD UK to continually monitor and improve its quality procedures and performance throughout all its operations.

Providing first class specialist training in areas such as rigging and lifting, roof top safety, manual handling awareness and emergency first aid, the company has been pro-active in ensuring that equitable levels of competence and training have been established. Furthermore, Applus RTD UK has qualified IRATA approved trainers as staff members and some are certified to NEBOSH general and diploma standard. The training of all employees is held in its purpose built training facility in Falkirk, Scotland.

Operating in the UK, Holland, Germany and Norway, Applus RTD has established itself as a global industry player. Yet it is the company’s ability to establish and maintain long term working relationships with clients that sets it apart from its competitors.

Applus RTD UK has for example recently renewed a long-term contract with Ineos
Manufacturing Scotland for the supply of NDT services to its Grangemouth site. This contract is testimony to the quality level of service and expertise that Applus RTD UK offers, and indeed highlights its ability to really understand and meet the needs of its clients over the long term.

Indeed, the majority of inspections the company carries out are in the form of long-term contracts with several major international companies in the refining, chemical and power industries. Similarly, in Norway, ongoing projects include a long-term contract with ConocoPhillips to service the Ekofisk complex. This contract was recently renewed and Applus RTD Norway will continue to supply manpower for on-stream radiography. In addition, the firm has secured a contract to provide incotest inspection for corrosion under insulation and a trial project for phased array ultrasonic inspection of the seal areas of graylock hubs on flowlines.

Other new project work in Norway includes a contract to provide an array of NDT services to StatoilHyrdo for a redevelopment project on the Snorre A platform, in the North Sea.

Applus RTD Norway has ten full time technicians focused on NDT from the company’s Stavanger base where it has a 600 m2 workshop with two x-ray bays. Working collaboratively with the UK, the Norwegian market now benefits from access to industry leading rope access services and training. Both Applus RTD Norway and Applus RTD UK work closely to service the UKCS sector.

Ensuring that health, safety and environmental procedures are at the forefront of all operational activity, Applus recently added to its list of credits and became the first business in the UK to become accredited with the latest British Safety standard OHSAS 18001: 2007.

OHSAS 18001 is the internationally recognised assessment for occupational health and safety management systems. Established in 1999, there have been a number of significant changes to the OHSAS 18001 standards since that time. These revisions have brought about a new award standard, with Applus RTD UK being the first British company to be awarded the new health and safety award.

A rigorous five-week audit was conducted by SGS UK just one month after the new standard was introduced. SGS reviewed Applus RTD UK to make sure the company’s work practices, risk assessments, and safe working practices and procedures all met the new standard, and was satisfied that the company demonstrated compliance in all areas of the audit.

Further strengthening its reputation as a leader in health and safety provisions, Applus also recently scooped the prestigious Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) award for the third year in a row. Having achieved ten consecutive RoSPA gold awards in 2007, Applus RTD UK received the Presidents Award in recognition of its sustained commitment to health and safety.

Applus RTD UK provides a comprehensive range of engineering and technical services, inspection services, specialist techniques and NDT services from UK offices in Aberdeen, Great Yarmouth, Teesside, and Falkirk. Being a part of the Applus RTD network also means that the company’s clients benefit from a global company presence across all five continents of the world.

Applus RTD

Services Inspection and testing services