Subsea tech firm opens new base on banks of Tyne

NORTH Tyneside subsea technology and services company SMD has officially opened its third facility in the region following a £3m investment.

- COREENA FORD

The offshore specialist announced plans last year to create a new base from which to expand further into the wider renewables markets, having worked in the oil and gas markets for 54 years from Wallsend’s Turbinia Works.

Now the company, which last year launched a new distribution facility at New York Industrial Estate, has opened SMD Tech Works, based at Neptune Energy Park on the River Tyne.

The centre is dedicated to underwater technology development and innovation, spread across almost 20,000sqft of space, for a growing order book.

Directors said it enables the business to continue efficiently delivering pioneering subsea solutions to clients around the world.

Mike Jones, chairman at SMD, said the investment builds on SMD’s strong heritage in the North East, where it now employs over 300 staff.