Ovun

OVUN

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OVUN

I PROFILE

With more than 30 years’ experience in roto-moulding and buoyancy, Ovun is a master of the ocean space. Having recently transitioned from PartnerPlast to Ovun, Sales Director Charl Burger sat in on an exclusive interview to explain the reasoning behind this exciting new chapter. Report by Imogen Ward.

O

riginally established under the name

said Sales Director Charl Burger. “Although

PartnerPlast, the Norwegian-based

a very niche market, it helped solidify our

company was set up to serve

business model of combining competen-

a specific segment of the offshore oil and gas industry.

cies in electronics and plastic moulding.”

Following the oil price crash in 2016,

“In our primary years, we were very

PartnerPlast, like many medium-sized

much focused on roto-moulding for oil

businesses, was heavily affected due

and gas, specifically the seismic market,”

to its status as a niche supplier. At the

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time, the company had also entered the

no longer reflected its capabilities. As a

buoyancy market and reacted quickly to

developer and manufacturer of high-tech

a reduction in revenue by switching focus.

solutions that cover the over and under

“The crash was really a watershed moment for us, and as a result, we have

ocean space, PartnerPlast decided it was time to leave its name behind.

spent the last six years diversifying signifi-

“When we entered the market as

cantly,” Mr Burger explained. “We now serve

PartnerPlast, we were only making our

a wide range of sectors, from renewables

partners’ products,” Mr Burger said.

to aquaculture.”

“Today, most of our revenue comes from

Considering this journey from specialist

our own designs, and we are so much

to mass market, the company felt its name

more than just a roto-moulding company.

We do everything from design to project management, electronics and a whole array of other things. With this growth in the over and under sphere, the change just made sense. Of course, through the clever amalgamation of the two words ‘over’ and ‘under’, we landed on a new name: Ovun.”

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OVUN

I PROFILE

Innovating the ocean space

buoyancy elements on the cable. However;

Alongside this exciting announcement,

our design removes the need for internal

Ovun has also recently developed a new

clamps within each buoy and replaces them

product that works perfectly for cus-

with two or three larger, external clamps.

tomers in oil, gas and renewables. XCS

“This allows the buoys to move freely

is a patent-pending external clamping

around the cable and reduces installation

system which seeks to replace the need

time. The genesis of the idea was focused

for internal clamps on distributed

on floating wind because that market is

buoyancy equipment.

pushing for solutions that reduce installa-

“Distributed buoyancy is installed along

tion time and costs. XCS will be a total

a dynamic cable to create a ‘lazy wave’.

gamechanger for that industry, and we

This allows the cable to move with the

hope it will gain interest within the oil and

floating platform without getting damaged,”

gas market soon.”

Mr Burger explained. “Traditionally, these

XCS has been available for a year and has

systems would use individually clamped

gained a lot of interest from the renewables

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market, with one of the industry’s major

dedicate more time and money to repairing

players already signing an agreement.

and replacing individual elements instead

Ovun has also signed an MoU with a major

of entire assemblies. So we spent a lot of

renewables partner to ensure the con-

time discussing service and repair agree-

tinued development of the system.

ments which has resulted in partnerships

“Ovun is not as well known for its flexible protection products, because we are rela-

with several local companies to ensure the service is a success.”

tively new in that segment, but it has been a big growth area for us, and we have built up a solid track record of deliveries there,” Mr Burger said. “This includes products such as bend restrictors, cable ducting and bend stiffeners.”

When it comes to its buoyancy equipment, the company is encouraging customers to recycle. By offering service and repair agreements with its products, Ovun is also answering a growing demand from the industry.

“Buoyancy systems have a long life, during which they get fairly mistreated,” Mr Burger explained. “More recently, we have seen a shift in customers wanting to

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OVUN

I PROFILE

Reprocessing for the better

determined to ensure that the reprocessed

Recycling is not a new concept at Ovun,

plastic is just as good as the virgin alterna-

having previously set up Nordic Plastic

tive. We provide highly technical products,

Recycling with partners Cipaz, RiR, Astero,

especially when it comes to the oil and gas

and (later) Romsdal Innovation. Established

sector, so the quality must be extremely

in 2016 on Ovun’s site in Åndalsnes, NPR

high. That has been a real challenge, but

was created to breathe life back into

we have achieved it.”

plastic, by sorting and grinding used products ready for reprocessing.

“Our focus at NPR is more than just recycling,” Mr Burger explained. “We were

Despite the successful development of a quality-matched recycled material, NPR has been challenged further by insufficient return quantities. According to Mr Burger, it has been difficult to source enough products for reprocessing. To overcome this hurdle, Ovun launched a returns service two years ago.

“This has been quite popular so far, and it really motivates our customers to recycle,” said Mr Burger. “Typically, the options are limited when it comes to getting rid of worn-out plastic products, and it often results in the company having to pay for that provision. Our service is a win-win for

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customers because it is charge-free, so

back to Ovun. For those looking for extra

not only are they reaping environmental

security when it comes to lost equipment,

benefits, but they are rewarded

we also offer different types of GPS tracking.

commercially as well.”

“With over 25 years’ experience serving

The company is also in contact with

the offshore sector, our outstanding elec-

various government agencies, coastal

tronics department has developed several

administrations and environmental

products that can be used to accurately

groups. As they are often responsible

locate buoys. Our software is even capable

for collecting wandering buoyancy

of sending alerts when buoys get loose.

equipment, Ovun hopes to work with

Obviously, there is a cost implication with

these organisations to further improve

that, but I think the industry really needs

recycling rates.

to decide where its priorities lie, and if it’s better to have low cost or a premium

Tried and tested traceability

product that ensures equipment is

Every product manufactured by Ovun is

managed more effectively.”

branded to increase the chances of stray systems being returned.

“We really try to decrease the chances

As the company continues under a new name, its mission is consistent: “We are determined to transform the

of our systems being found randomly where

ocean space into a safe, profitable and sus-

they aren’t supposed to be,” Mr Burger

tainable workplace,” Mr Burger concluded.

explained. “As a standard, all our products

“That remains our aim as we continue for-

feature a serial number that directly traces

ward in this current phase of growth.”

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