A North East engineering firm that is paving the way in innovative marine and subsea technologies has expanded into new office space in South Tyneside, following sustained business growth in the past 6 months.
Having worked with an array of international clients, ranging from Japan, Asia to Brazil, DME Systems Ltd was created in late 2021 by two of the North East’s esteemed engineers, Michael van Zwanenberg and Darren Coombe.
DME Systems specialises in designing a variety of equipment for multi-national corporations, focussing on marine and subsea equipment. With the ongoing growth in offshore renewables, mining and telecoms they’ve now completed 20+ projects since inception. The company’s product range is renowned for its robustness and high-quality finish which ultimately gives operators reliable and cost-effective equipment for their in-field projects.
The firm has enjoyed sustained growth over the past 6 months and as a result, has relocated its operations to the Manufacturing Zone at Jarrow Business Centre, with its well-connected location and outstanding transport links being one of many deciding factors for the company.
Looking ahead to the future, the fast-growing business will be adding two new staff members to the team, with Stephen Dixon joining as Control and Power Systems Engineer and Richard Purdy taking on a role as Mechanical Engineer. With these additions the company will have 65+years of design experience within this dynamic and fast-paced industry, helping to support their ambitious growth targets going forwards.
Michael van Zwanenberg, co-founder of DME Systems Ltd, said: “We came across the Manufacturing Zone, and it made complete sense to make the move. Our business is split 50% consultancy and 50% manufacturing and the units available at South Tyneside are well tailored to support us in both these areas.
“Now we have nearly double the space compared to our last base, and this will help us to continue growing at every level. When we started out we made some projections for our first year’s trading and we’ve excited to say we are ahead of target which is great news.
“Part of the frustration we have experienced growing the business has arisen in finding suitable offices and workshops with room for continued growth, South Tyneside Council have been both helpful and accommodating with our relocation which in turn, allows us to focus on the day-to-day operations with our clients.”
The move to the Manufacturing Zone has since allowed DME Systems Ltd to undertake one of their biggest and most complex projects to date designing and manufacture a bespoke data acquisition system, HCU and ROV skid to interface with specialist client tooling – once in operation it will be used in the deep ocean upto 6,000 metres down to analyse seabed conditions with extremely high data fidelity rates.
While attracting complex projects such as the ROV Data Acquisition Skid and showcasing DME’s product range to an ever-growing client list, DME Systems Ltd is also using its relocation as an opportunity to further strengthen its ongoing commitment to offering staff an enjoyable work-life balance.
Darren Coombes, co-founder of DME Systems Ltd, said:
“We have adopted a family-like approach to our work at DME. Having lived all my life in the North East we’re keen to further expand the regions capabilities and expertise. Our business is created around people and ensuring a good work-life balance is key to our continued growth plans.
“In the back of our minds when thinking about business decisions, we are constantly thinking about the well-being of our team, whether that includes better systems for company benefits, salaries, or encouraging staff to add more skills through funded courses and personal development. Our long-term aim is to ensure DME is a rewarding place to work and grow.”
Councillor Margaret Meling, Lead Member for Economic Growth, Skills and Climate Change, said:
“The Manufacturing Zone was established to provide much-needed quality accommodation for businesses operating in the offshore energy and advanced manufacturing sectors to grow and create jobs, so it’s fantastic to see companies such as DME Systems Ltd relocating to the facility.
“It is perfectly placed to take advantage of supply chain opportunities arising from the Operations and Maintenance base for the upcoming Dogger Bank Wind Farm at Port of Tyne, as well as its proximity to the International Advanced Manufacturing Park and Nissan.
“Michael, Darren and the DME team have some incredibly exciting projects coming up and we are looking forward to seeing them continue to grow over the coming years.”
To find out more about DME Systems Ltd, visit: http://www.dme-systems.com/
To find out more about the Manufacturing Zone at Jarrow Business Centre visit: https://investsouthtyneside.com/business-centres/jarrow-business-centre/manufacturing-zone-at-jarrow-business-centre/
