Vector International, the international pressure connection and sealing specialist based in Baglan, Port Talbot, today celebrates 20 years in business – marking the occasion with a celebratory lunch event for its employees at its Baglan Industrial Park offices.

Founded in June 1987 by technical director John Stobbart, the company – which provides compact, high integrity connection and sealing technology for piping, vessel and pressure containment applications to the worldwide oil and gas industry, and nuclear, processing, chemical, mining and aerospace industries – has seen significant growth and success over its 20 year history, including a number of key milestones and highlights.

Originally named Techlok after the clamp connector product on which it was founded, and employing 50 people, the company changed its name and corporate identity to become Vector International in 1994.  The move came as a result of an expansion of the product portfolio, plus considerable international growth which now sees the company employing some 120 people, including 70+ in Port Talbot and nearly 50 in offices across the globe, including the UK, Norway, Holland, Canada, USA, Middle East, Far East and Australia.  At its Baglan site Vector has expanded from its original 5000 ft2 to a current 25000ft2 presence, with plans to expand further by the end of the year.

With an annual turnover today of some £20 million, Vector’s products (including the Techlok clamp connector, SPO Compact Flange and Optima subsea connector) are used by all the major oil and gas operators on projects onshore, offshore, and subsea, across the globe.  Overseas sales today represent some 67% of its annual turnover (a considerable increase from some £2 million ten years ago).

Significant highlights have included a merger with Norwegian company SPO (Steelproducts Offshore) in 2003, and a more recent joining forces with Belgian piping and valves company Icarus announced earlier this year, as well as the prestigious achievement of a Queens’ Award for Enterprise in 2004.

Technical director John Stobbart commented: “I’m delighted to be celebrating 20 years in business, and very proud of the company’s considerable growth and achievements in that time – in which the hard work, dedication and commitment of all its staff has played a major role.  We’ve seen a lot of changes, both internally and in the markets we serve, and have come a long way.  Now we’re looking forward to continuing that success going forward.”

The celebratory event to mark the occasion involved a speech by founder and technical director John Stobbart, which has also been streamed to the global offices, and a photographic exhibition of 20 years of memories.