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.
E
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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