48 | Tees Business
WE’ VE CRACKED IT!
Another prestigious industry gong has been won by SABIC, adding to a series of recent awards recognizing the outstanding performance of the global petrochemical firm’ s Teesside business.
SABIC, whose UK headquarters and operational focus is based on Teesside, was named Manufacturer of the Year at the 2017 NEPIC Awards.
The past 12 months had already seen SABIC receive the Chemical Industries Association’ s Company of the Year award and Process Safety Leadership prize, Cogent’ s Gold Standard, Top Employer of the Year, NEPIC Apprentice of the Year and the Better Health at Work Award.
NEPIC – the North East Process Industry Cluster – works closely with the region’ s chemistry-focused industries including petrochemicals, polymers and materials, fine and speciality chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and renewables.
Witnessed by some 430 industry executives, the Hardwick Hall awards event saw SABIC UK Petrochemicals lift the Manufacturing gong as a manufacturer who“ clearly demonstrated outstanding performance during 2016.”
The firm’ s commercial success, evidence of growth, delivery of innovation and
Upgrade work to the Olefins 6 Cracker was a big part of SABIC’ s latest awards success.
continuous improvements, environmental credentials, enhanced supplier relationships and supply chain developments were all taken into account.
It was perfect timing as the firm marked the completion of its multi-million pounds Gas Cracking Project that represented the firm’ s biggest UK investment in a generation. Rising costs and competition from rival markets had forced SABIC to streamline and restructure its Teesside operation in 2014, but a major investment project to its pivotal Olefins 6 Cracker came to fruition at the end of last year.
Teesside site director John Bruijnooge, who spoke at the event, said:“ To achieve our 2025 global vision, SABIC has made a significant investment in Teesside to achieve lower cost-per-tonne chemical production – a strategic business move that keeps us highlycompetitive in the European market.
“ Safety, health and environmental management standards are at the heart of our activity, and outlines best practices derived from years of experience and expertise. We are constantly striving to make our sites the safest in the business.
“ Globally, we are now in the process of deploying Manufacturing Excellence Management Standards that will revolutionise our manufacturing organisation and work processes to fulfil the potential of our operation activity.”
As part of its award, SABIC received a cheque for £ 2,000 to donate to a school of their choice. Thankful recipient was Saltburn’ s Huntcliff Secondary School, where the firm is developing an exciting project designed to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Zoe Lewis of Middlesbrough College with John Bruijnooge.