PROFILE
the design of the C1500/C2000 Self Elevating Platforms, which are suitable to operate in water depths up to about 65-70 metres.” He continued: “We are now looking at supplying a new modular Self Elevating Platform in between the C7 and C9 class, in around a 600-ton deckload range. We have completed the design already so it’s just a matter of pushing the button and off we go – I anticipate this will happen before the end of the year.” Many of the improvements and new product developments were made in consultation with clients and this sort of customer feedback is imperative to Combifloat – as Bas noted the company can’t exist without its clients: “It’s obviously very important that we listen to them. We do consult with a number of potential clients so we can make sure we address their needs. As ours is a modular system we can adjust elements to meet project specific requirements, but if they require something really special then we are happy to help.” Combifloat will also assist clients with jacking engineers if required, and is able to develop or to render services in operating the units. “Quite often our customers are repeat customers, which means they just need the technology as they are already familiar with how it operates,” added Bas. All of the platforms already supplied by Combifloat are in operation across the world, with the company exporting more than 95 per cent of its products. “We have rental units operating right now in Europe, the Mediterranean, Israel, the Caribbean, the Caspian, South America and the Middle East and we have sold units to clients all over the world, including Australia,” Bas highlighted. “We have actually recently been quite busy in South America and the Caribbean, and we see business picking up in the Med and West Africa as well as India. “Oil and gas has been down for obvious reasons over the last couple of years and we don’t predict a serious pick up in the next 12-18 months as a result of the continuous low oil prices. But subsequently we have seen an increase in economic growth resulting in a number of big infrastructure projects such as harbour developments, bridges and tunnels where we can play our role and be of assistance with our flexible and cost effective products.” Illustrating this point, one of Combifloat’s C9 platforms is currently operating in the Falkland Islands on a harbour development for services related to oil and gas. “We have another C9 operating in Bahrain for a very major marine
construction company,” added Bas. “The marine construction market is positive, and we continue to see opportunities in that particular market segment.” While the past two years may have been busy for Combifloat in terms of product development, it has also implemented a new ERP system. “We developed this from scratch, as we had a lot of existing procedures that we had to integrate into the system, and while it’s still a bit too early to quantify the effect it will have I am confident it will certainly have a positive impact on our performance. We have simultaneously upgraded all our internal processes eventually resulting in further increased service level towards our clients,” concluded Bas. “2017 is looking good - we will probably be back at pre-2016 business levels. Going forward we want to focus on our continuous natural growth. We will continue to look at the right acquisitions or adding existing jack ups to our fleet. We have the means available to grow and we are certainly planning to make use of those.”
Combifloat
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ENERGY,oil&gas
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