THINGS are hotting up for a Colne Valley firm - after it landed £150,000 of orders with a major energy company.

Marsden-based Andel has designed a heavy-duty recycled plastic oil containment system for Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE).

The equipment, which is designed to stop oil leaks from contaminating the ground, is now undergoing trials with SSE at five sites in Scotland.

The trials are being run as SSE undertakes a major programme to upgrade its transformers to accommodate new wind farms.

And so far, SSE says Andel's ReBund containment system is achieving savings of several thousand pounds per unit - as well as making considerable CO₂ savings in comparison with conventional pollution prevention methods. Andel, which has annual sales of £3m and gained the Queen's Awards for Exports in 2006, says it expects to recruit three or four workers to its 38-strong staff this year as a result of the deal.

Andel's Halifax-based supplier, plastic recycler Iplas, also expects to grow its business in response to new orders.

Chris Cassidy, a chief engineer for SSE, said: "There are a number of advantages we are interested in with the ReBund system.

"It's a very lightweight kit, which takes a couple of engineers four to eight days to fit - depending on the size of the unit - as opposed to around one month for reinforced concrete with a larger number of fitters.

"We are up against tight programmes of work and everyone is pleased with the speed of installation, so we meet our deadlines.

"Where there are high-voltage systems, our risks are also reduced as there is no reinforcing steel to manage."

Mark Harris, Andel commercial director, said demand for ReBund was being driven by changes in oil storage regulations, landfill taxes and carbon reduction laws.

He said ReBund was finding favour among several of the largest utility companies in the UK and Eire.

Mr Harris said: "ReBund helps meet carbon footprint legislation by diverting tonnes of plastic waste from landfill and using it in place of concrete materials.

"Installing the system reduces taxes from waste going to landfill and uses sustainable materials.

"The sectional system can accommodate changes in level or deal with awkward and confined spaces. There is also a 'no dig' option, leaving underground pipes and cables undisturbed and reducing on-site costs. In addition, it requires no costly earth-bonding.

Andel, established in 1992, is a recognised market leader in the supply of specialised leak detection systems which are distributed across Europe, America and Canada, the Middle East, China and Brazil.

It has supplied systems to government departments, local authorities and energy firms for use in venues where pollution or water leaks can cause damage or pose an environmental risk.

Andel systems have been fitted in places ranging from Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace to TV and radio stations, data centres, banks, hospitals, libraries, museums and archives.

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* OIL'S WELL: Mark Harris, commercial director of Marsden-based Andel which has won a £150,000 order to supply oil containment systems made out of 100% recycled plastic to energy giant SSE

Source: The Free Library by Farlex (link opens in a new window)