(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.