Birkenhead industrial firm Neway Industrial Services links up with Cammell Laird as part of new powerhouse maritime group. Tony McDonough reports

Birkenhead-based Neway Industrial Services is to be brought under the umbrella of the APCL Group, a powerful new maritime brand that includes Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird.

In October LBN revealed Cammell Laird was joining forces with another shipyard owner, A&P Group, to create a maritime powerhouse with a combined turnover of £188m.

Also including A&P Australia, the APCL Group will develop an “all of one” company approach to certain major contracts and will further the group’s ambition of becoming a tier one contractor.

Neway, previously a subsidiary of Cammell Laird, was founded in 2003. With an annual turnover of £2.8m, it offers a range of services to the marine and industrial sectors, including painting, blasting and project management services. 

As the fourth member of APCL, Neway will support the APCL Group of companies by providing its range of services to A&P and Cammell Laird’s commercial and defence customers.

In order to support the businesses’ next phase of growth, Neway has appointed Sean O’Brien as its new managing director. He joins the firm after a 25-year career at Bilfinger UK, where he most recently held the position of commercial director.

Sean began his career as an apprentice fitter turner in 1989 at M&R Engineering, and since then has progressed through a number of roles in the engineering sector. These include proposals engineer, senior cost engineer and commercial manager.

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“I am very excited to be joining Neway at such a pivotal time for the company,” said Sean. “Neway has enjoyed a period of rapid growth and continues to support a number of key customers such as Stena Line, Mersey Ferries, Calmac and the Royal Navy.

“I am looking forward to growing the Neway customer base and expanding Neway’s portfolio across the UK.”

David McGinley, chief executive of APCL Group, added: “By bringing Neway under the APCL banner, we are diversifying our portfolio and strengthening the services we offer to both our defence and commercial customers across the UK.”