(Pictured left to right): Laurens Oldenzeel, Head of Projects, Qlayers and Jim Collier, Operations Director, Denholm Industrial Services with a Qlayers mobile coatings robot.

Denholm Industrial Services, part of the Denholm Group, has formed a partnership with Qlayers to deploy its mobile coatings robots to projects in sectors including marine and tank storage.

Working in challenging environments, Denholm Industrial Services provides critical engineering support that enables the build and maintenance of power, infrastructure, and naval and commercial marine assets.

In partnership with Netherlands-based Qlayers, a leader in pioneering industrial coating application technologies, Denholm Industrial Services is investing in innovative solutions that deliver efficiencies to clients, enhance operative safety, improve project productivity and protect the environment.

Qlayers has developed advanced robotic systems for coating large industrial assets, including storage tanks and marine vessels. The company’s unique technology, a patented spray shielding system, significantly mitigates overspray, reducing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and microplastics emissions.

The technology also enhances efficiency and accelerates project timelines with the capability to apply multiple layers much faster than manual application.  Further savings are achieved through the robots’ automated coating method, which notably reduces overspray, resulting in paint savings of up to 50 percent.

In addition, its precision application method ensures consistent coating thickness, and the ability to deliver precise feathering between rows. The robots also improve site safety, significantly mitigating fall risks by reducing operative working hours at heights by 85 percent.

As part of the partnership, Denholm Industrial Services has secured exclusive rights to deploy Qlayers’ technologies in the UK marine sector and is already deployed across the UK.  The agreement will also enable Denholm Industrial Services to build its presence in the tank storage market.

Operative training took place following Denholm Industrial Services’ recent acquisition of a majority shareholding in Universal Coatings.  The acquisition has created a new company, Denholm Universal, and advanced training for operatives delivering the first UK marine project utilising Qlayers’ robotic coating technology took place at its 11,500 sq metre blast and coating facility on Teesside.

Steve Hill, Managing Director, Denholm Industrial Services, said: “This partnership with Qlayers is an essential component of our strategy to evolve the business’ capabilities through technology-led solutions, while increasing the diverse skills and competencies of our experienced operatives.

“Qlayers’ technology is truly groundbreaking for our industry and will deliver efficiency and productivity gains, alongside environmental enhancements, which are vitally important.

“This is another demonstration, following our recent acquisition to create Denholm Universal, of our intentions to provide greater and more comprehensive support for UK sectors such as marine and tank storage.  As well as now operating one of the largest coatings facilities in Britain, located on Teesside, we are also able to utilise innovative robotics coatings technology in the field.”

Josefien Groot, CEO, Qlayers, said: “We are proud to have partnered with Denholm Industrial Services. The company shares our vision to revolutionise our industry through the creation and application of innovative robotic technologies.

“Our robots represent a significant step forward in industrial coating technology and will add value to the contracts secured by Denholm Industrial Services.  Having delivered a comprehensive advanced training programme for its operatives, we are confident that we will see a strong pipeline of applications for our technologies through Denholm Industrial Services.”

Denholm Industrial Services Limited, part of the Denholm Group, has acquired 60 percent of Universal Coatings & Services Limited.

It has become co-owners of the North East-based business with Wilton Universal Group, forming a collaborative partnership that will strengthen Universal’s position in industrial sectors.

The new co-ownership formalises an ongoing two-year supply chain relationship between the two organisations and will enable customers to benefit from the enhanced size and scale of the combined operations.

Working in challenging environments, Denholm Industrial Services provides critical engineering support that enables the build and maintenance of power, infrastructure and naval and commercial marine assets.  The business employs over 600 people at regional branches and project sites across the UK, providing engineered scaffolding, specialist platform, cradle and rope access, blasting, painting and industrial cleaning.

Universal Coatings operates one of the largest coatings facilities in the UK on the banks of the River Tees, in Tees Valley.  It serves a range of industries including engineering, petrochemical, subsea, offshore renewables and nuclear power generation.

Employing 61 people, Universal Coatings has a 11,500 sq metre blast and coating facility, at Wilton Universal Group’s 112-acre base, as well as providing on-site surface and coatings services.

Bringing together the services of both businesses, Universal will provide a comprehensive offering integrating specialist coatings, blasting, scaffolding and rope access to customers responsible for naval defence, energy and industrial facilities.

Steve Hill, Managing Director of Denholm Industrial Services, said: “Following two years as supply chain partners, it is the natural next step for Denholm Industrial Services to become a co-owner of Universal Coatings.  Formalising our relationship will enable stakeholders of both businesses to benefit from our enhanced size and scale, as well our shared ethos of service excellence, delivered through world-class skills and experience.

“Tees Valley has an exceptional reputation for its industrial capabilities, with forward-thinking companies, like Universal Coatings, building on the area’s heritage, which has evolved to support cutting edge sectors including marine defence, energy and industrial assets.”

Bill Scott OBE DL, chief executive of Wilton Universal Group, said: “As co-owners with Denholm Industrial Services, we will accelerate growth at Universal.  This will enable us to invest in further training and career prospects for our loyal and highly talented team, who always maintains exceptional standards of workmanship on the prestigious projects we deliver.

“There are strong synergies between Universal and Denholm Industrial Services, both in terms of company ethos and capabilities. Integrating the companies’ services along with Universal’s facilities, services and highly experienced local workforce, is a unique and powerful combination that will benefit customers of both businesses.”

The Industrial Services division of family-owned business, J. & J. Denholm, is pleased to announce a re-organisation, which is designed to enhance the provision of services to principal contractors and owners of marine, infrastructure and power assets.

Denholm Industrial Services, along with sister brands, Access Lifting Pulling and Safety (ALPS), Elite Scaffolding South West and Scaffold Erection Services (SES), have combined into one single legal entity, Denholm Industrial Services Limited.  Four new business streams have been created in Denholm Industrial Services: Access, Marine, Infrastructure and Power.

The Industrial Services division has evolved through investment in technologies and the acquisition of scaffolding and access businesses.  Formerly, each trading brand was a unique legal entity with its individual systems, processes and accreditations.  However, with their shared ethos of ‘Always Safety First’ and a ‘Trusted Partner’ approach, together with a culture of respect and a focus on quality and on-time delivery, the individual entities have been combined into one single business, Denholm Industrial Services Limited.  In doing so, the efficiency of the combined organisation will be improved through a more simplified administration and an enhanced service provision.

Steve Hill, Managing Director of Denholm Industrial Services, said, “The Industrial Services division has grown significantly in the past six years through the acquisition of respected scaffolding and access businesses, together with investment in the latest scaffolding, blasting and painting technologies and the development of our people across all levels of the organisation.  I want Denholm Industrial Services to continue to deliver to our customers as efficiently and as skilfully as possible, and the re-organisation has been designed to achieve this.  I am truly excited about the benefits and the opportunities this will provide to all our stakeholders – customers, suppliers, and employees.”

The re-organisation of Denholm Industrial Services Limited into the four business streams of Access, Marine, Infrastructure and Power was completed on 1^st July 2022.  Due to recognition among their respective customers, the four trading brand names and logos for Denholm Industrial Services, ALPS, SES and Elite Scaffolding will continue to be used.

“In Safe Hands” is the title of an article on Denholm Industrial Services Managing Director that features in the March edition of Construction & Civil Engineering magazine. In his interview, Managing Director, Steve Hill, sets out his vision for the company in 2021 and beyond, and explains why continuous investment in safety, people and technology is at its heart.

Read the full article here.

Denholm Industrial is pleased to announce the acquisition of Access Lifting Pulling & Safety Ltd, commonly known as ALPS, which was completed on 14th September 2018. The acquisition expands Denholm Industrial’s existing engineered capabilities on structures that are difficult to access and the combined capabilities establish a fully comprehensive scaffolding and access solutions provider.

Based near Sheffield, ALPS designs and implements bespoke engineered access solutions and specialises in suspended access and lifting applications. The company has developed its skills, expertise and methodologies o safely deploy suspended access equipment, modular mobile platforms and specialist industrial rope access technicians, overcoming the challenges of accessing large or complex structures that are difficult or impractical to access using conventional scaffolding methods.

The acquisition of ALPS enhances the existing engineered scaffolding and access capabilities of Denholm Industrial and its subsidiaries and the combined businesses provide a fully comprehensive single-supplier service that offers flexible and efficient access solutions.

Denholm Industrial Group Managing Director Steve Hill said: “ALPS has a track record of accessing some of the UK’s most iconic and difficult to reach landmarks and structures and combining our skills and competences creates an attractive proposition for customers of ALPS, Denholm Industrial Services and SES, our Midlands-based scaffolding business. Together, we offer a comprehensive set of capabilities to meet both routine and bespoke access requirements, which reduces the number of on-site interfaces for our customers when they are managing major construction, maintenance and repair projects.”

David Simm of ALPS said: “Combining the skills, experience and expertise of ALPS and Denholm Industrial was compelling for me. We have developed and honed our specialist access skills over the past 20 years, particularly as structures have become bigger and more challenging to access. Similarly, Denholm Industrial has built up a family of recognised and well-respected scaffolding and access brands and as part of a larger family-run group, shares our work ethic and total commitment to health and safety. The acquisition of ALPS by Denholm Industrial establishes a truly complete engineered access solutions provider.”

The acquisition of ALPS by Denholm Industrial follows previous acquisitions of Elite Scaffolding in April 2018 and Scaffold Erection Services (SES) in May 2016, two well-regarded access and scaffolding companies in the south west of England and the Midlands respectively.

Denholm Industrial Group, the industrial services divisional entity of J. & J. Denholm Limited, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Elite Scaffolding (SW) Ltd. The acquisition extends Denholm Industrial Group’s operational capacity in access services in the South of England.

Based in Yeovil, Elite Scaffolding provides scaffolding and containment services across the south west of England. Operating in complementary new construction and building refurbishment markets, the acquisition of Elite Scaffolding enables Denholm Industrial to fully extend its access services across house building, small works, civil infrastructure, large construction and building maintenance projects in the south of England.

Denholm Industrial Group Managing Director Steve Hill said: “The acquisition of Elite Scaffolding is a natural fit for Denholm Industrial. The relationships that Elite Scaffolding has fostered with its customers are based on the quality and consistency of its services, while its health and safety record is exemplary. By combining our capabilities and shared work ethos, we are able to provide scaffolding and access service solutions across southern England.”

Elite Scaffolding Director Neil Evans said: “The acquisition by Denholm Industrial marks the next phase of the Elite Scaffolding brand. I am proud of the reputation Elite has built among its customers in the South West. Now that we are part of Denholm Industrial – which is itself part of a larger family-run group – we have the ability to extend across the south of England. Crucially for me, the operating standards, customer-focussed culture, and commitment to health and safety of Denholm Industrial mirror those of Elite Scaffolding.”

The acquisition of Elite Scaffolding by Denholm Industrial follows its previous acquisition in May 2016 of Scaffold Erection Services (SES), the Birmingham-based access and scaffolding company.

J. & J. Denholm Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Hill as Managing Director of Denholm Industrial Services Limited. Steve also becomes Managing Director of Denholm Industrial Group Limited, the legal entity of the Industrial Services division.

Previously Operations Director at Wood Group Industrial Services, Steve Hill brings 25 years’ experience to Denholm. He is also no stranger to the Denholm brand, having worked for the Group in the UK, the Middle East and the Caspian region, where most recently he was Operations Director for Denholm Zholdas in Kazakhstan.

Mr. Hill said: “Re-joining Denholm was an easy decision for me. I know the Group’s business and work ethics well, which align with my own. It is paramount that we look after our people, treat them fairly and conduct our business in an honest and professional manner. For me, Denholm embodies this philosophy, and the Group’s commitment to it is demonstrated in the ‘Denholm Standard’.”

Denholm Industrial Group, the Industrial Services Division of the Denholm Group, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Scaffold Erection Services Limited (SES).

Based in Birmingham, SES is a 40-year-old family business that has been developed into a leading scaffolding service provider in the West Midlands by previous owners the Ward family and the SES management team, led by Managing Director Phil Heffernan.

With a diverse client base across commercial and local authority organisations, the reputation that SES has for safety, quality, service and delivery is demonstrated in the level of repeat business secured by the company. Its strength in the Midlands complements the footprint of Denholm Industrial Services’ scaffolding business, which has project offices in Scotland and the South of England.

Former owner of SES, Kevin Ward, who is also immediate past President of the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation, has put significant effort into driving forward standards in the scaffolding and access industry in general, and setting the standard at SES as an example of best practice.

John Denholm, Chariman and CEO of the Denholm Group said: “I am delighted we have been able to acquire SES. The company is a natural fit with our industrial services business as we share the same ethic and focus on health and safety and there is no overlap between the operation of SES and the operation of Industrial Services. In the process of the acquisition I have been impressed with Phil Heffernan and his management team and I have no doubt that they will be able to contribute to our wider industrial services businesses. We welcome SES to the Group and look forward to working together and further growing SES in conjunction with Phil Heffernan and his team.“

Phil Heffernan, Managing Director of SES, will continue in his role following the acquisition.