John Swinney visit marks RITCHIE’s continual improvement strategy

~ Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth visits Forfar factory ~

Agricultural equipment manufacturer and packaged gas and offshore handling expert RITCHIE, demonstrated the techniques it has employed to prepare for sustained growth through continued improvement when John Swinney visited its plant in Suttieside, Forfar recently. Following his meeting with RITCHIE, Mr Swinney stayed at the Suttieside plant for a meeting with a small group of members from Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce.

RITCHIE illustrated for Mr Swinney the improvements it has made to its plant, which have helped the company remain competitive in the demanding agricultural and oil and gas industries. These included progress on its lean manufacturing system, robotic welding, forward thinking HR techniques and product developments including semi-domestic wind turbines for use in rural environments.

"We would be the last company to set ourselves up as a paragon for manufacturing," explained Tony Walker, managing director. "However, RITCHIE has been in existence since 1870 and in that time has reinvented itself to succeed through several challenging periods. The current economic climate only reinforces the reasoning behind our most recent set of improvements. Our objective is always to exceed our customers’ expectations while maintaining costs at an acceptable level.”

RITCHIE’s visitor, John Swinney, is a Scottish National Party politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for North Tayside. He was the National Convenor of the SNP between 2000 and 2004. Swinney was previously a Member of Parliament for Tayside North, before taking the same seat in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections. In 2007 he achieved the largest constituency vote for any candidate in Scotland.

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Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from RITCHIE, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://ritchie-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

For further information contact: Tony Walker
David Ritchie (Implements) Limited, Carseview Road,
Forfar, Scotland, DD8 3BT
Telephone: 01307 462271
Fax: 01307 464081
e-mail: ajwalker@ritchie-uk.com
www: http://www.ritchie-uk.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About RITCHIE: RITCHIE provides innovative handling, storage and security solutions for the industrial gas & chemical, offshore and agricultural sectors. The business was established over a century ago and today employs over 120 people in Scotland, supplying businesses across the globe.

About John Swinney: John Swinney is a Scottish National Party politician, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and Member of the Scottish Parliament for North Tayside. He was the National Convenor of the SNP between 2000 and 2004. Swinney was previously a Member of Parliament for Tayside North, before taking the same seat in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections. In 2007 he achieved the largest constituency vote for any candidate in Scotland.

Ref: RIT0039/08/08

John Swinney visit marks RITCHIE’s continual improvement strategy

~ Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth visits Forfar factory ~

Agricultural equipment manufacturer and packaged gas and offshore handling expert, RITCHIE, will be demonstrating the techniques it has employed to prepare for sustained growth through continued improvement when John Swinney visits its recently extended plant in Suttieside, Forfar on June 27 at 10.00am. Following his meeting with RITCHIE, the Mr Swinney will be staying at the Suttieside plant for a meeting with a small group of members from Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce.

RITCHIE will be keen to illustrate for Mr Swinney the improvements it has made to its plant, which have helped the company remain competitive in the demanding agricultural and oil and gas industry. These include progress on its lean manufacturing system, robotic manufacturing, forward thinking HR techniques and product developments including semi-domestic wind turbines for use in rural environments.

"We would be the last company to set ourselves up as a paragon for manufacturing," explained Tony Walker, managing director. "However, RITCHIE has been in existence since 1870 and in that time has reinvented itself to succeed through several challenging times. The current economic climate only reinforces the reasoning behind our most recent set of improvements. Our objective is always to exceed our customers’ expectations while maintaining costs at an acceptable level.”

RITCHIE’s visitor on the June 28, John Swinney, is a Scottish National Party politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for North Tayside. He was the National Convenor of the SNP between 2000 and 2004. Swinney was previously a Member of Parliament for Tayside North, before taking the same seat in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections. In 2007 he achieved the largest constituency vote for any candidate in Scotland.

Ends: 264 words

Editor’s note: Mr Swinney is scheduled to visit Ritchie’s recently extended plant in Suttieside, Forfar, at 9.30am. Following a short tour of the factory and a meeting with the company’s senior management team, he will meet the Chamber President and members at 10am.

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from RITCHIE, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://ritchie-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package www.sharpreader.net.

For further information contact: Tony Walker
David Ritchie (Implements) Limited, Carseview Road,
Forfar, Scotland, DD8 3BT
Telephone: 01307 462271
Fax: 01307 464081
e-mail: ajwalker@ritchie-uk.com
www: www.ritchie-uk.com

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: www.stonejunction.co.uk

For further information from Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce contact: Alan Mitchell
Telephone: 07874 606395
e-mail: alan.mitchell@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

About RITCHIE: RITCHIE provides innovative handling, storage and security solutions for the industrial gas & chemical, offshore and agricultural sectors. The business was established over a century ago and today employs over 120 people in Scotland, supplying businesses across the globe.

About John Swinney: John Swinney is a Scottish National Party politician, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and Member of the Scottish Parliament for North Tayside. He was the National Convenor of the SNP between 2000 and 2004. Swinney was previously a Member of Parliament for Tayside North, before taking the same seat in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections. In 2007 he achieved the largest constituency vote for any candidate in Scotland.

Ref: RIT0038/06/08

RITCHIE and Dominion Gas announce major contract

~ Growing Scottish firms strike deal based on international capability ~

Packaged gas and offshore handling expert RITCHIE has announced a significant contract with a Scottish-based oil field service company that supplies the full range of diving, welding, industrial, laboratory, test and calibration gases, Dominion Gas. Under the terms of the new contract, RITCHIE will manufacture cylinder diving gas frames, for use on Dominion Gas contracts across the globe.

The frames will hold 48 or 64, 50 litre capacity, three hundred bar cylinders. Each frame has a dedicated serial number so that it can be tracked, providing material traceability and integrating with Dominion Gas’ asset management software (CATS). Within the system, every cylinder is assigned a serial number, allowing clients to log in to the company’s Web site to monitor progress.

In order to manufacture the frames to a size that would meet Dominion Gas’ transport requirements, RITCHIE purpose designed a new top section to reduce the height of the entire assembly. After this process was complete, the structure then had to be re-submitted for DNV 2.7-1:2006, the Det Norske Veritas Standard for Certification of Offshore Units. It is also fully compliant with BS EN 12079, the British Standard for the design, construction and testing of offshore containers.

The two piece gas cylinder pack frame was then designed fit the state-of-the-art galvanising plant at RITCHIE’s Forfar site. Previously, Dominion Gas has used smaller, 16 cylinder, frames in similar projects. However, it makes solid financial sense to use larger structures, allowing the company reduce the number of offshore lifts by up to a factor of four. Furthermore, having a combination of different sizes available allows Dominion Gas to fit the frames into the available boat space in the most efficient manner. The contract is being fulfilled to match the production schedule of the cylinders themselves.

“It’s my belief there are only a handful of companies that could deliver this project within the required timescale,” explained Scott Downie, the RITCHIE industrial sales executive involved. “There was DNV compliance to contend with and a significant design element, which puts it outside the scope of most large fabrication facilities. RITCHIE has a manufacturing survey agreement with DNV, which reduces the need the need for extended inspection. As a result, we are able to offer a compliant service to meet even very ambitious deadlines such as this one. Our manufacturing processes and internal capacity are ideal for this kind of project.”

“RITCHIE and Dominion Gas now have a long standing relationship that stretches over almost two decades,” explained John MacAskill, sales director of RITCHIE. “Dominion Gas has grown significantly in recent years, opening new gas plants in Norway, Baku, West Africa and Aberdeen. I think there is enormous potential for the company, and particularly its diving gas products, globally. There was a very successful management buy out at Dominion Gas in 2007, which has enabled the company to install an infrastructure capable of growing the business both at home and internationally whilst continuing to place emphasis on traditional values such as service, quality and customer focus.”

“Dominion Gas views international supply and expansion as a key element of its growth ambitions and we believe that this contract with RITCHIE both reinforces that message and reflects a solid trading relationship between the two organizations,” explained George Yule, Chief Executive of Dominion Gas. “As a preferred supplier to our business RITCHIE has proven its ability to match our own, very high standards, and to mirror our ambitions.”

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Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from RITCHIE, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://ritchie-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

For further information contact: John MacAskill,
David Ritchie (Implements) Limited, Carseview Road,
Forfar, Scotland, DD8 3BT
Telephone: 01307 462271
Fax: 01307 464081
e-mail: jmacaskill@ritchie-uk.com
www: http://www.ritchie-uk.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About RITCHIE: RITCHIE provides innovative handling, storage and security solutions for the industrial gas & chemical, offshore and agricultural sectors. The business was established over a century ago and today employs over 120 people in Scotland, supplying businesses across the globe.

About Dominion Gas: Aberdeen-based Dominion Gas is the leading independent supplier of diving and industrial gases to the global offshore industry, with turnover in 2008 anticipated above £25million – this represents a 4-fold increase over the past 2 years. The company now employs 70 staff worldwide with offices in Baku, Singapore, West Africa, Norway and Scotland and representation in UAE and Latin America.

Ref: RIT029/03/08

RITCHIE plant opening in Suttieside increases capacity and creates new jobs

~ Managing director’s speech outlines vision for the future ~

Agricultural, industrial gas and offshore handling expert RITCHIE officially opened its new plant extension in Suttieside on February 14. The event was marked with speeches from Tony Walker, the company’s managing director, Peter Hughes the chief executive of Scottish Engineering and Ruth Leslie Melville, MBE, the Provost of Angus.

The new plant extension provides greater manufacturing capacity, reduced operating costs and five new jobs for the company, which has been trading in Forfar for over 130 years.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Charlie Stewart, director of growing businesses for Scottish Engineering Tayside, Allan Mitchell of the newly reformed Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce and Bob Myles David Sawers, David Valentine, Eric Lowson and Neil Prentice from Angus District Council. A number of RITCHIE customers also visited the site, including Dominion Gas and Swire Oilfield Services.

An additional highlight was the burying of a time capsule, representing a snapshot of life at RITCHIE in 2008. Its contents included copies of the local press and video of the local news roundup as well as historical documents mapping the history of the company’s site in Forfar.

In his speech, Tony Walker stressed the emphasis that RITCHIE has placed on developing its manufacturing processes by incorporating new techniques and investing in production equipment such as robotics. He went on to preview plans that the company has to expand its product range by introducing a renewable energy offering. Following the speeches a number of RITCHIE customers accompanied the local dignitaries on a factory tour.

“On this site we employ almost 150 people including our joint venture galvanizing plant, which is the widest in Scotland, bringing in more than £12 million into Angus last year,” explained Tony Walker, in his speech. “But what have we been doing to prepare for the future? At the same time as moving our operation onto one site we have embraced lean production techniques showing how we can make ourselves more effective by improving our working environment and removing waste from our processes and plant layouts. We have also installed and exploited our new computer system giving us more current and detailed information with shop floor data collection and integrated time and attendance recording. Next come MRP (Manufacturing Resource Planning), forecasting and CRM (Customer Relationship Management).”

Peter Hughes, the chief executive of Scottish Engineering said, “RITCHIE has been around for 130 years and is now a significant employer in Angus and Tayside. The success of the company can be attributed to a hard working, skilled and enthusiastic workforce very well led by a forward thinking and inspired management team. This new extension is just another example of the company’s on going commitment to the area at a time when Scotland’s manufacturing operations are under severe pressure from overseas low-wage economies.”

Charlie Stewart, director of growing business at Scottish Enterprise in Tayside, said: "We've worked closely with RITCHIE to help them develop their business and supported the company with the extension. They really are one of the success stories in the manufacturing sector in our area and have worked to develop new products, innovative ways of working and break into new markets to consolidate a positive future.''

Copies of Tony Walker’s speech and Peter Hughes’ speech are available from Richard Stone at Stone Junction (contact details below). Additional photos of the event are also available.

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Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from RITCHIE, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://ritchie-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

For further information contact: John MacAskill, David Ritchie Implements Limited, Carseview Road, Forfar, Scotland, DD8 3BT
Telephone: 01307 462271
Fax: 01307 464081
e-mail: jmacaskill@ritchie-uk.com www: http://www.ritchie-uk.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About RITCHIE: RITCHIE provides innovative handling, storage and security solutions for the offshore, industrial gas & chemical, defence, glass, distribution, automotive, rail and utility sectors. The business was established over a century ago and today employs over 120 people in two sites, supplying businesses across the globe.

About Scottish Engineering: Scottish Engineering is the principal support and lobbying organisation for the manufacturing and engineering industries in Scotland. Founded in 1865, it is a non-profit making organisation, wholly owned by its member companies. A founder member of the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF) the present membership of Scottish Engineering includes 400 companies from all sectors of the manufacturing industry.

Ref: RIT028/02/08

RITCHIE set to open new plant in Suttieside

~ Members of industry and the media are invited to the open day on February 14 ~

A speech by Peter Hughes, the chief executive of Scottish Engineering, will be among the highlights of an open day on February 14, being held to mark the unveiling of handling, agricultural and security specialist RITCHIE’s new plant extension. There will also be a speech by Tony Walker, managing director of RITCHIE and a factory tour.

An additional highlight will be the burying of a time capsule, representing a snapshot of life at RITCHIE in 2008. Its contents will include copies of the local press and video of the local news roundup as well as historical documents mapping the history of the company’s site in Forfar.

The new plant extension, in Suttieside, will provide greater manufacturing capacity for the company, which currently employs over 120 staff. RITCHIE has been trading in Forfar for over 130 years.

Scottish Engineering is the principal support and lobbying organisation for the manufacturing and engineering industries in Scotland. Founded in 1865, it is a non-profit making organisation, wholly owned by its member companies. A founder member of the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF) the present membership of Scottish Engineering includes 400 companies from all sectors of the manufacturing industry. Peter Hughes said, "It is great to be celebrating the success of a long established Scottish manufacturer which, having had a very distinguished history over the past 130 years is looking forward to an exciting future in its new plant".

Interested parties from the media should contact Richard Stone on 020 8699 7743 or e-mail richards@stonejunction.co.uk to book a place. Members of industry should contact John MacAskill on 01307 462271 or e-mail jmacaskill@ritchie-uk.com.

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Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from RITCHIE, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://ritchie-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package www.sharpreader.net.

For further information contact: John MacAskill,
David Ritchie Implements Limited, Carseview Road,
Forfar, Scotland, DD8 3BT
Telephone: 01307 462271
Fax: 01307 464081
e-mail: jmacaskill@ritchie-uk.com
www: www.ritchie-uk.com

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: www.stonejunction.co.uk

About RITCHIE: RITCHIE provides innovative handling, storage and security solutions for the offshore, industrial gas & chemical, defence, glass, distribution, automotive, rail and utility sectors. The business was established over a century ago and today employs over 120 people in two sites, supplying businesses across the globe.

Ref: RIT004/01/08