Two leading specialists and respected providers of piping and vessel connection and sealing technology today announce that they have merged, creating a global organisation able to meet all pressure connection and containment needs onshore, offshore and subsea.

The move maximises on the considerable synergy between the like-minded Norway-based SPO (Steelproducts Offshore) and UK-based Vector International, and the merged organisation now goes forward under the Vector International name, which is already well-known and respected in throughout the world. With a current £13 million turnover and substantial growth targets, the company employs some 150 people with offices in the UK, Norway, Continental Europe, Canada, USA, Middle East and Far East.

"Operators and contractors worldwide can now benefit from our considerable combined experience, engineering expertise and efficiency as the single leading international provider of high pressure connection and sealing technology," says Vector International's president, Jostein Ueland. "The range of products we offer provide a high-performance, leak-free alternative to traditional ANSI flanges and we will be targeting this market in particular. We see this as an exciting move, and a beneficial one for widespread industry."

Importantly, the 'new' Vector International product portfolio now comprises the very best sealing technology from each merging company, specialising in smaller, lighter-weight, compact connection solutions. Comprising the high performance SPO compact flange (offering unique no-leak sealing capabilities), Optima subsea connector, and renowned Techlok clamp connector the products can withstand pressures in excess of 40,000psi while offering typical weight and space savings of some 70-80% over traditional ANSI flanges. Further, the products are complementary, meeting the needs of all onshore, offshore and subsea applications, from flow-lines to risers and the deep sea floor.

As well as size and weight advantages, further key benefits of Vector's products over traditional ANSI flanges include greater sealing integrity, improved safety, reduced bolting requirements, built-in protection against sealing fatigue, and low maintenance.

"Our products and services are extensively used by all the major operators - indeed both SPO compact flanges and Techlok are market leaders in the North Sea - and as the benefits of compact connection technology are increasingly recognised around the world, we see very real opportunities for substantial growth," comments vice president marketing & sales Ian Robinson.

In addition, and key to the service it offers, is Vector International's broader role of 'partnership engineering' - working closely with the major operators and contractors around the globe, helping them gain optimum performance and maximum benefit from Vector's technology, and engineering dedicated solutions to specific applications where needed, as well as recognising and developing products and services to satisfy niche industry requirements.

"Our involvement typically extends through the lifetime of a project, from front-end engineering to on-going supply and maintenance. With an increasing focus on cost-efficiency and sound environmental practice, the cost-savings and leak-free capabilities we offer have a valuable contribution to make. There's very real potential out there for our services," Robinson adds.

Indeed, Vector International aims to achieve 40% growth in its first year as a new corporate entity, targeting a turnover of some £18-20 million.