Strong results for Dron & Dickson

18 January 2010

Independent hazardous area electrical specialist Dron & Dickson has reported strong financial results, in a year of widely fluctuating energy prices. This has allowed the company to begin a two-year investment programme that incorporates expansion into overseas markets, building on initial success in North Africa and the Middle East.

The company, which is headquartered in Stirling and has a major base in Aberdeen, recorded turnover of more than £28million for 2008/09, up from £26million in 2008, and pre-tax profits of just under £1million for the year ended 31 May 2009.

It opened an office in Baku, Azerbaijan and has achieved sales growth in key target export countries, with other new projects due to start next year.

A major part of the investment programme was ploughed into business development and a new marketing department, with the creation of new external business development posts as well as a new website and corporate logo.

Managing Director Colin Rowley said the latest figures represented another satisfying year for Dron & Dickson and paved the way for continued development in 2010.

“The latest financial results are a great achievement for Dron & Dickson and allow us to reinvest cash back into the business to deliver a long term sustainable growth plan,” he said.

“Investment will be focused on safety, quality and operations. The results reflect a particularly notable year, when oil prices fluctuated between record highs and new lows.

“We’ve achieved our objective of expanding on our initial growth into the international market this year, particularly in Africa and Azerbaijan, where we now have a base in Baku that will facilitate a number of new projects. These areas and the Middle East are priorities for us in the year ahead.”

Rowley said Dron & Dickson had significantly invested in quality and competency systems. “These systems will provide a clear paper trail and demonstrate that all our people on and offshore are fully qualified to do their job and enable them to become more technically competent than ever.

“We believe these improvements address changes to industry standards and we are working closely with clients and the Health & Safety Executive to ensure we remain at the forefront in our area of expertise.

“We are also tailoring the services provided to our customers by building closer relationships with manufacturers and supporting the products that deliver “real world” savings based on clients’ expectations. Our new marketing department will enable us to do this even more effectively.”

Paul Smith, previously manager at the Lowestoft office, has been appointed marketing manager and has already completed an overhaul of the Dron & Dickson website at www.drondickson.com

Smith said: “Analysis of customer satisfaction feedback and marketing campaigns has allowed us to create a website which is much more user friendly and includes links to the products we supply.

“We now have a fully functional website which allows us to promote new products and allows customers to download datasheets and full technical specifications. It also looks much more modern and reflects where Dron & Dickson is in the marketplace today.

“We are also starting 2010 with a fresh logo which is designed to be more easily reproduced in the many types of communication and marketing media the company now deals with. Like the website, the rebranded logo is also much more fitting for a company which has been established for more than 80 years but has moved with the times and knows what today’s energy sector demands.”

Dron & Dickson serves clients in a wide variety of sectors, including oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, distilleries, retail and manufacturing. The company has two main revenue streams from its wholesale outlets and engineering services and management sector. Employing 160 people, the company is headquartered in Stirling with four regional offices, including Craigshaw Road in Aberdeen, Hull, Teesside and Lowestoft.