A NORTH-east firm has held a family fun day to celebrate 20 years in business. eBlast, part of the eGroup, welcomed around 200 people of all ages to its Kintore headquarters at the Midmill Industrial Estate to help mark the anniversary.
Since first opening its doors at the former Inverurie loco works in 1999 with only four employees and a forklift truck, the business has evolved to become one of the largest specialist coatings and surface preparation businesses in the UK and an expert in specialist coatings for extreme environments.
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Over the past two decades, eBlast has largely focused on meeting the needs of customers in the energy sector; with clients ranging from local fabricators to major suppliers to the oil and gas, renewables and construction industries.
Today, eBlast employs more than 70 people – with a total of 200 across the group. Its highly-skilled team provides thermal spray aluminium, passive fire protection and top sides epoxy coating designed to withstand extreme environments.
Through this expertise, the company has serviced and protected many of the large-scale offshore and subsea structures found in the North Sea today.
Neil McDonald, CEO and chairman of eGroup, commented: “I am proud to stand here today looking back on twenty years of excellence and what we have achieved together as a team. Over the years, eBlast has become synonymous with first-class quality and service, and that is testament to the hard work and dedication of its staff.
“Our people are what has made the company successful and I would like to thank them all for their level of service, reliability and commitment to our clients, which is second-to-none.
“It’s their passion which has undoubtedly driven the business forward to this landmark 20th anniversary.”
In 2018, eBlast and its sister companies amalgamated to form the eGroup and provide an integrated service that combines commercial and industrial coating, painting and surface preparation with structural steel fabrication, cladding installation and non-destructive testing (NDT) services, among other specialisms.
The family-run business, which can trace its roots back to 1976, operates from an 18-acre facility in Kintore – just 10 minutes away from Aberdeen International Airport.
Neil McDonald added: “Having successfully navigated the past 20 years, we see a lot to be positive about for eBlast and the wider industry for the remainder of 2019 and beyond.
“For us to have reached 20 years – and still be in a strong position – is a remarkable achievement. Many of our staff have been with the company for several years and I would like to pay tribute to every one of them for all that they have contributed to our success.”
