Family oil firm in Aberdeenshire celebrates best year in business

Family oil firm in Aberdeenshire celebrates best year in business

A family-run oil and gas firm in Aberdeenshire is celebrating its best year in business, 22 years since first setting up shop.

Offshore Products International, a supplier of industry equipment such as line pipes and valves, was established by managing director Ian Fraser Cadger back in 1999 at St Katherines, near Inverurie.

His wife Wendy, daughter Sam, son Lewis and his nephew's fiancée Becky have supported Mr Cadger, the firm's only full-time employee, in reaching record turnover of £1.5million.

“I am so proud of them all, but especially my wife who has stuck by me through all the hard times”, he said.

“People might say £1.5million, that's a small turnover. But for one man and his part-time staff that is huge.”

As Covid struck the oil and gas industry globally, Offshore Products International Ltd (OPL) was forced to reassess its strategy, having historically been a supplier to Middle Eastern markets.

Aside from Qatar, where OPL still works, Mr Cadger said he was regularly being outpriced by manufacturers in India and China, sometimes coming 40% higher in bids for work.

“If I was still working in the Middle East, we would be finished, the company would be finished.

“We've had to diversify into different markets so Africa has just