Safety seal manufacturer Roxtec grows team with new ports and airports infrastructure manager

Leading cable and pipe seal manufacturer Roxtec UK is ramping up its growth plans with the appointment of Nigel Pinhorne to its Infrastructure and Industry Team.

Nigel joins Greater Manchester headquartered Roxtec as market manager for Ports, Airports, and Heavy Vehicles having previously worked for Sheffield Insulation Group. He said he aims to use knowledge acquired by the wider Roxtec global group to help generate business within the UK’s airports and ports.

"What attracted me to Roxtec was the product, the company, and the chance to build an area of the business that hadn't been penetrated," Nigel explains.

"A lot of my previous roles were centered around immediate sales. I wanted to delve into specific specification sales, from design through to installation. That's what really attracted me to this role.”

Clive Sharp, Roxtec UK managing director, welcomed Nigel to the team.

“We’re pleased to see Nigel join us as we seek to grow the business in the infrastructure market segment,” he said.  “Airports and ports are a growth market for Roxtec in the UK, and Nigel brings a lot of contacts and expertise.

"Roxtec is successful in other countries in these sectors, so we know that our seal solutions can deliver real value. Nigel will be drawing on this expertise and that of Roxtec colleagues around the world, which is a massive advantage for growing in the UK offering proven seal technology which can help protect buildings, people and assets from a range of hazards including fire, the risk of explosion, flooding, effects of lightning strikes and rodents."

Nigel said immediate targets include working on maintenance projects and ongoing work, with an eye on winning new major infrastructure work.

“We are building relationships with the airports and ports, and those who run a number of these facilities,” Nigel says.

“Working on projects such as new runways will be key but there are also exciting industry wide changes to explore. Ship building for instance is transitioning towards more hybrid-powered boats, with a new age of plug-in and hybrid cross-channel ferries.

“The UK does not have the capabilities, ships cannot dock and plug-in, so there will be developments to explore with upgrading port infrastructure.”

Nigel, whose role also includes oversight of Roxtec’s work with heavy vehicle suppliers, including military vehicles, will be part of a small team within the wider Infrastructure group at Roxtec.

He is delighted to team up with former colleagues, with whom he has a track record of success.

"Knowing some of the team already is helping me settle in, so too the fact that there is a large crossover between the companies I have worked with previously and the companies who work at ports and airports,” he adds.

While the expansion into ports and airports is new, Roxtec UK is already firmly established in the UK.

The Swedish-owned company’s cable and pipe seals are found widely in a range of infrastructure and manufacturing industries, including civil construction, rolling stock, datacentres, water management, robotics and more.

Its cable and pipe seals are used to protect people and assets from multiple hazards including fire, flooding, the risk of explosion and electromagnetic disturbances. Key benefits include durability, reliability and flexibility.

Meanwhile, Roxtec cable entry seals are ideal for field-based terminal boxes, electric heat trace cabinets, remote I/O cabinets, DCS/PLC cabinets and other high cable density applications in harsh environments.

Roxtec entered the marketplace in 1990 and is now active in more than 80 markets worldwide. The British subsidiary of the £198 million Swedish group has a turnover of more than £6 million and a team of 24 based at its Waterfold Business Park head office in Bury, Greater Manchester.