Passer Group

PASSER GROUP

CABLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION

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PASSER GROUP

I PROFILE

162 Inside sustainability

PASSER is a leading industrial group of companies focused on providing innovative solutions for the renewable energy sector. The company’s portfolio of services includes equipment for offshore cable handling and manufacturing, metal fabrication, shipbuilding, and cryogenic insulation solutions for the maritime market. Espen Brudal, Director of Business Development, explained more to Hannah Barnett.

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volving from a relatively small

A brief history of PASSER

company servicing the oil and gas

PASSER is headquartered in Norway and

industry, PASSER is now an adaptive,

has additional locations in the UK, Lithuania,

flexible and flourishing operation. Close to

the Netherlands, South Korea and China.

80% of its business now exists within the

Each site maintains its own business

renewable energy industry.

segment: for example, PASSER in the UK

“Maintaining a strong position in the

and the Netherlands offers a large pool

cable handling sector requires a holistic

of rental equipment for cable transport,

approach that values employees, listens

storage and services related to trans-

to customers, tracks market shifts and

pooling. PASSER in Lithuania boasts a

actively fosters innovative solutions,”

workshop area of close to 10,000 square

said Director of Business Development

metres (including preparation floors)

Espen Brudal. “By consistently implementing

and skilled workers and engineers spe-

these strategies, PASSER is able to stay

cialised in the fabrication of cable

ahead of the game.”

handling equipment.

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PASSER GROUP

I PROFILE

PASSER is an industrial group which consists of:

All companies have inhouse engineering capabilities operating in close cooperation

PASSER Products – a leading provider of large cable handling and manufacturing equipment.

PASSER SIDC – the main fabrication site of cable handling equipment for the energy industry.

with fabrication.

Having begun operations supplying the offshore industry with installation reels and steel structures offering payload capacities up to 500 tonnes, the company is now capable of delivering complex automation

PASSER LARS – fast solutions for power cables, flexible pipelines and other subsea installation projects.

PASSER Marine – state-of-the-art patented cryogenic insulation solutions for sustainable shipping, green fuels and land-based installations.

with a capacity for large structures and more than 20,000 tonnes of cable. PASSER gained the financial backbone to take on

turing plants in Europe. Our vertical layup

such substantial projects in 2016, when

machines will be operating in JDR’s new

private equity company Farvatn came

plant in Blyth, UK, and in TKF’s new plant in

in as majority shareholder.

Eemshaven, the Netherlands. We also have

This growth is complemented by a

projects ongoing in Asia and are proud of

healthy turnover, which has increased by

being able to deliver to such established

200% over the last few years, as PASSER

and renowned players in our industry.”

adapts and responds to shifts in the market.

“All our business is, directly or indirectly,

Going green

linked to the energy transition,” said

PASSER balances this economic growth

Mr Brudal. “Currently, PASSER is contributing

with its environmental responsibility and

to two new state-of-the-art cable manufac-

has adopted the UN sustainability goals.

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The company focuses on a few goals in

cascades down our supply chain and is

particular, such as goal 5 which aims to end

part of the supplier qualification process.”

all forms of discrimination and violence

PASSER brings this concept of environ-

against women and girls, goal 7 which

mental responsibility into all its projects, and

focuses on increasing access to sustain-

actively works towards having the most

able energy for all, and goal 13 which calls

sustainable operation possible. This also

for immediate and effective action to

means maintaining a happy and motivated

combat climate change and its impacts.

workforce and promoting a culture with a

“We feel these goals, and several

positive work-life balance, where family and

others like 3 and 14, are directly related

health always come first.

to our employees and area of business,”

“We understand the importance of

said Mr Brudal. “We think of the environ-

valuing our employees,” said Mr Brudal.

ment as a collective responsibility, which

“We invest in workforce development,

our customers and suppliers are involved

promote continuous learning and ensure

in through our project deliveries. Our com-

our team is well-equipped to meet the

mitment to the UN sustainability goals

industry’s demands.

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168 Inside sustainability

PASSER GROUP

I PROFILE

Perfecting partnerships

thorough qualification process before

PASSER’s approach with its customers is

entering into any agreement,” Mr Brudal

hands-on and a large part involves actively

explained. “This approach ensures trans-

seeking and responding to feedback.

parency and reliability in our partnerships.

The company works on the basis that

Communication is always two-way, and

understanding the evolving needs and

the competence of our partners enhances

preferences of clients is integral to

the quality of our products and the effi-

offering tailored solutions that truly

ciency of our project execution.”

address their challenges.

PASSER is already well-established

As for any successful business, it is vital

as a brand name in the market for cable

that the company also extends this policy

manufacturing equipment, transport and

of healthy relationships built on trust and

storage, and now intends to deliver its

mutual respect to its supply chain. As a

product range to the entire cable lifecycle.

result, PASSER can be discerning about

This too will require close collaboration. “We

the companies it works with.

see our market as a bit fragmented with a

“Our suppliers are selected based on

lot of smaller players,” said Mr Brudal. “The

a number of criteria and subjected to a

way forward may be to enter partnerships,

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or consolidate key actors, to be able to take on even larger projects.”

There will no doubt be challenges ahead as the company embraces new ventures.

according to Mr Brudal: “I love meeting

As the global transition to clean energy con-

people from different cultures and parts

tinues, demand for electrification grows and

of the world and reaching mutual under-

is starting to outpace delivery capacity.

standings whilst working towards a

Above all else, innovation will keep PASSER

shared goal. Our projects can start with

relevant and competitive, so active develop-

a cold call or a meeting by chance at

ment of core products and services remains

a trade show–making a connection with

a priority. “Staying ahead in the cable

just the right person.

handling industry entails closely monitoring

“Often the entire project process can take

market shifts,” Mr Brudal added. “Adapting

years,” he concluded. “I love the feeling

to technological advancements, regulatory

when the finish line is reached, and we

changes and emerging trends is essential

can look back at the obstacles we have

for us.

overcome as a team and turned it into

“All these challenges require us to

a success.”

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carefully plan our operations and priorities.

Sustainability is something which affects all companies and environmental challenges must be solved together. Hence, now more than ever, it’s crucial to connect with reliable partners and build lasting relationships.”

PASSER is clearly a people-driven environment, and one that relies on close cooperation with several moving parts for its success. That is also what makes it such dynamic place to work,

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