SOLUTIONS
Quite simply put, APD is a solutions provider. The core principle we have built the company on is to provide our customers with the best possible technical solution for their problem. Our systems are always innovative, designed to maximise their potential, based on proven technologies and with a view towards expansion and future-proofing.
Aker Solutions (previously Aker Kvaerner) are synonymous within the Oil & Gas Industry for complex, leading-edge, high-integrity sub-sea production systems coupled to top-side controls.
APD’s history with Aker Solutions goes back to 2007 where we played an integral part of the software and systems design for projects in the Asgard. Brynhild, Kizomba, Lula, Tulip, Tupi & Skuld Fields to name but a few.
APD’s involvement in these projects was at a Tier 1 supplier level, designing, purchasing, programming, building, testing and commissioning both the Top-side and Sub-sea components of the systems. The work is demanding and quality has to be maintained to the highest possible standards, to this end APD has continually achieved an A+ rating within Aker’s QA rankings.
Aker Solutions (previously Aker Kvaerner) are synonymous within the Oil & Gas Industry for complex, leading-edge, high-integrity sub-sea production systems coupled to top-side controls.
A company everyone has probably heard of but fewer know what they do. An icon of the British Construction Industry, there’s a high chance you are staring at their main product beyond your screen, Plasterboard.
Is it stretching things to say APD has had a hand in building your house or office? Well for over 30 years we have worked with and been a key supplier to their Kirkby Thore site in Cumbria designing, building and installing large Motor Control Centres (MCC’s), Instrumentation, PLC Control Panels and Cabling systems both above ground and down in the gypsum mines.
Without these there would be no board so we think the answer is ‘yes’!
For over 30 years we have worked with and been a key supplier to their Kirkby Thore site in Cumbria designing, building and installing large Motor Control Centres (MCC’s), Instrumentation, PLC Control Panels and Cabling systems both above ground and down in the gypsum mines.
In 2014, Cochran, an industry leader when it comes to large scale steel, water or waste-heat boilers tasked APD with developing a brand new, advanced control system for its largest boilers.
After a year of development ‘Synergy V1’ was born, transforming the way these enormous systems are monitored and safely controlled. It was a game-changer for Cochran, and since then we have gone on to develop further modifications as technology and capabilities have evolved.
We’ve been able to raise the bar higher providing intelligent and refined controls that improve boiler efficiencies, resulting in large energy savings whilst simultaneously bringing all their systems to the IIOT cloud with a fully digital dashboard and remote access capabilities.
In 2014, Cochran, an industry leader when it comes to large scale steel, water or waste-heat boilers tasked APD with developing a brand new, advanced control system for its largest boilers.
Formerly Gates Rubber, Gates Power Transmission as it's known now, has been a stalwart of the local economy of Dumfries for decades.
The site used to be synonymous with Duralay and Hunter Wellies but it now exclusively manufactures toothed rubber drive belts that you'll find in everything from your Flymo to your car. The Dumfries plant is considered to be a "world class" manufacturing site producing the highest quality drive belts used by hundreds of manufacturers around the globe.
Since the late 1980's APD has played a major part in the design, build and programming of dozens of complex test rigs used by the factory to verify the quality of their products.
There are only two factories in the world deemed good enough to produce the drive belts for a Harley Davidson motorcycle. One is in Wisconsin, the other is in Dumfries and APD designed, built and programmed the machine that tests each batch of belts produced.
Since the late 1980’s APD has played a major part in the design, build and programming of dozens of complex test rigs used by the Gates Power Transmission to verify the quality of their hi-tech toothed rubber belts for industrial, hydraulic, agricultural and automotive applications.
Helix Energy Solutions are one of the world's premier marine service contractors and operators of off shore oil and gas properties, with a focus on well intervention and robotics operations.
APD’s relationship with the company started in 2010 and from then we worked with them on numerous projects with the largest being the Top-side and Subsea controls for their Skandi Well Enhancer vessel.
Given the harsh environments, safety-critical functionality, need for extreme reliability and complex operation this work is amongst the most challenging the company has faced and we have drawn huge knowledge from it since to utilise our expertise in many other sectors.
APD's relationship with Helix Well Ops spans back to 2010 when we worked with them on numerous projects; the largest being the top-side and subsea controls for their Well Enhancer vessel.
This international company based just outside Edinburgh has a hugely respected world-wide reputation within the Naval Defence and Marine industries going back over 100 years.
The specific work APD has carried out for the company cannot be discussed but we can say that since 2015 we are proud to have designed, built, programmed and tested some of the most complex controls every under-taken by our company.
These have included control panels capable of surviving huge shock, vibration and temperature changes and when you fit switches labelled ‘Battle Over-ride’ you know you are working on a different level.
The specific work APD has carried out for the naval defence company cannot be discussed but we can say that since 2015 we are proud to have designed, built, programmed and tested some of the most complex controls every under-taken by our company.
Nuclear Power is the hardest of industries to break into and operate successfully in but since 1999 APD has had a continuous onsite presence at the Chapelcross Power Station in south west Scotland.
Whilst operational we worked under BNFL but since the reactors have been turned off the site has transitioned to Magnox Ltd operating under license to the UK’s National Decommissioning Authority.
If one thing stands out above all else on these sites it is safety. Every aspect of every piece of work undertaken even day is governed by safety. For 22 years and counting APD has an unblemished safety record at the site.
Many would think that after you turn the place off the level of work would diminish, in reality the opposite is true and APD has been busy designing and installing a multitude of systems to allow for the long-term de-commissioning work to be carried out efficiently and safely.
Nuclear Power is the hardest of industries to break into and operate in but since 1999 APD has had a continuous onsite presence at the Chapelcross Power Station in southwest Scotland.
Swiss giant Nestle are synonymous with brands like KitKat, Terry's Chocolate Orange, Yorkie, Coffee-mate and SMA Baby Formula to name a few. What you might not know is that all these products are manufactured right here in the UK.
One of their premier manufacturing sites is in Dalston, Cumbria and we have had a continuous working relationship with the company since the earliest days of APD (or Amber Electrical as it was back in the day).
Since 1987 we have supplied Nestle with countless control panels, electrical engineering and software support.
More recently we supplied a motor control panel to the company's manufacturing site in Tutbury. The panel was so long we used a drone to fly along side it for capturing footage of it!
APD has had a continuous relationship with the Swiss giant Nestle's Cumbrian manufacturing division in Dalston since 1987, supplying countless control panels, electrical engineering services and software support.
Nissan is a car producer synonymous with efficiency and quality across all its manufacturing sites.
Since 1993 APD has been a key supplier of bespoke control systems throughout one of their leading UK facilities in Sunderland.
Our installations range from press, paint, trim and engine shops to a factory-wide "Intelligent Power Distribution and Monitoring Systems".
Our specialist capabilities have given us the opportunity to work on some fantastic projects such as interfacing conveyor lines, paint-spraying and body-sealing robots, defect-detecting AI camera's inspecting freshly pressed body panels and powerful HVAC systems used for monitoring and correcting spray-booth pressure - just to name a few!
Since 1993 APD has been a key supplier of bespoke control systems across the site. From press, paint, trim and engine shops to the factory-wide "intelligent power distribution and monitoring system" - we've been part of some really unique projects.
The Cumbrian division of global brand Pirelli, specialises in the production of the company's premium tyres. These premium tyres then go on to be used by many of the leading car manufacturers including Porsche, Jaguar and Land-Rover.
APD has worked on the site since the early 90s installing countless cables and control systems across the plant.
The most complex and notable system to date was a project to create a system for tracking and logging every process carried out on each tyre made. Next time you see a new Pirelli tyre, look for the barcode on the inside of it - if it came from Carlisle then APD put it there. That code can be used to recall everything that happened to that tyre at every point along its journey from being a blob of rubber to the finished tyre.
APD has been working on projects within Pirelli's Carlisle site since the early 1990's, installing countless cables and control systems across the tyre making factory.
Established in 1985, Solway Transport is the largest live fish transporter in Europe. The company is responsible for the transport of 70% of the salmon and trout grown in the UK. Their purpose built fleet comprises fourteen 44 tonne artic lorries, three 25 tonne rigids and trailers, a specialist 7.5 tonne rigid and four pickups and trailers.
APD were approached back in 2018 to develop an oxygen monitoring system for the fish tanks during transit. The system was required to monitor up to 8 tanks per vehicle simultaneously, automatically adjusting the oxygen saturation to a pre-set level via solenoid valves. The oxygen levels are also fed to an in-cab screen, alerting the drivers to any issues in real time. Furthermore, once the driver reaches the end destination, a detailed print out of oxygen levels and water temperatures for each tank can be printed.
The system was a success and has subsequently been rolled out on a further 8 vehicles with more projects on the horizon.
“The system is reliable, only does what we require, is simple to operate and train people on with limited technical skills.” - Paul Armstrong-Wilson, Solway Transport 2021
APD has developed and installed oxygen monitoring systems, with the ability to control oxygen saturation during transit on several vehicles for Solway Transport - Europe's largest live fish transporter.
TWMA is a unique company operating within the Oil & Gas industry as the world's leading drilling waste specialists.
APD has been collaborating with TWMA since 1999, designing, building, programming and installing complex controls required to operate their machinery in locations all over the globe.
They are very much at the sharp end of drilling (no pun intended) where time is serious money, meaning efficient and reliable controls for their systems are of paramount importance.
APD has been collaborating with TWMA since 1999 at locations all over the globe, designing, building, programming and installing complex controls required to operate their machinery.
Let's talk biscuits!
We've been playing our part in the manufacture, packaging and storage of family favourites including McVitie's Digestives, Custard Creams and Walker's Shortbread since the mid-90's via our PLC and SCADA systems.
The brand is synonymous with some of the world’s and certainly the UK’s, favourite biscuits. McVities Digestives, Walkers Shortbread, Hobnobs, Carr’s Water Biscuits, Custard Creams, the list goes on and on. Since the mid-90’s APD has provided PLC and SCADA systems to the company at their Glasgow, Carlisle, Manchester & Harlesden sites playing a vital part in the efficient manufacture, packaging and storage of many of their products.
Let's talk biscuits! We've been playing our part in the manufacture, packaging and storage of family favourites including McVitie's Digestives, Custard Creams and Walker's Shortbread since the mid-90's via our PLC and SCADA systems.
Known as one of Scotland’s longest established premium distillers, William Grant & Sons are responsible for bringing you famous tipples like Single Malt Glenfiddich and Hendrick’s Gin but with a portfolio of many more.
APD has had the privilege of working with William Grant & Sons since 2016. We have designed, built and installed multiple Motor Control Centres (MCCs) and we played a key part in the redesign and programming of the controls for their energy centre at their Girvan site which also happens to be the UK’s largest producer of base grain alcohol.
One of APD's more recent clients, our projects have included being involved in the redesign and programming of the controls for William Grant & Sons energy centre in Girvan - which also happens to be the UK's largest producer of base grain alcohol.