Ritson Smith client profile – Rotech Group

From the start of the Industrial Revolution, Scotland has long had a reputation for mechanical problem-solving, inventiveness and high-quality engineering.  The Rotech Group exemplifies that heritage and is actively advancing this reputation on a global basis. 

Rotech specialises in the research, development, production and marketing of specialist tools for the oil, gas and subsea markets, and is at the forefront of technical solutions for the emerging renewable energy industry.  Dr. Hector Susman and Ken Stewart founded Rotech in 1994 with a buy-out from Volker Stevin Offshore, since when the company has grown to around 130 employees, with almost 20 based in Houston.

George Bell, Rotech’s Chief Financial Officer, elaborates:  “Our strength lies in the quality of our workforce, their ideas and technical focus.  We have a team of innovative and highly-qualified research engineers whose ideas will keep us at the forefront of technological development for the foreseeable future, a group of highly trained project engineers with the skills to operate our own specialised subsea equipment under demanding circumstances in often inhospitable environments, and an established fabrication workforce at our own in-house facility in Aberdeen which enables us to construct our unique equipment locally, under our own direct control”.

Rotech’s products are characterised by a robust, yet elegant, engineering-led approach to providing technical solutions to real-world problems, and the company holds a number of international patents. George is justifiably positive about Rotech’s future;  “The intention is to expand our subsea operations worldwide and to develop the Rotech Tidal Turbine (RTT) technology for the renewable energy market and other drilling technology projects for the offshore exploration industry to the point of commercialisation.

It’s this longer-term vision and commitment that characterises Rotech’s relationship with Ritson Smith too, according to George. “The Ritson Smith team are accessible, reliable and have a solid skill sets base - relationships have been established with the individual partners and managers which have endured for 13 years now.”

Ritson Smith partner Neil Harper added “We have acted for Ken Stewart and his very professional team at Rotech for a long time, and have seen them enjoy considerable success delivering growth locally and internationally.  We work together on financial and taxation issues, and, as Ken was once a tax specialist himself, he has a keen eye on our capabilities and input!”

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