IPS completes maintenance contracts

IPS director Paul Smith said the contracts with Whitaker Tankers, and ferry operators Seatruck and Stena showcased the broad range of fabrication and insulation skills IPS can provide.

“For Seatruck we supplied high temperature ceramic fibre insulation for the main engine exhausts. Meanwhile for Whitakers we made thermal oil pipe insulation pads for the main engine compartments,” he said. “We also provided stainless steel strainer baskets for filtering sea water and oil and we provided insulated computer covers and general fabrication works.”

Mr Smith said IPS also worked with fellow Birkenhead contractor MPE Interiors on its contract to outfit the Stena Adventurer car ferry. Here IPS manufactured and installed a range of stainless steel furniture and grills.

He added: “Our skill set further enables us to offer a high quality service and value for money. We know what we are doing, we have years of experience and our workmanship lasts. Frequently our work lasts twice as long as our competitors which again saves customers money as repairs and maintenance is kept to a minimum.”

Elsewhere in the ferry sector IPS recently announced it had completed insulation work for Cammell Laird on the two new build ferries it built for Western Ferries. IPS also recently installed high temperature exhaust insulation to the main engines of the Stena Line ferries the Stena Lagan and the Stena Mersey. The works were undertaken at Twelve Quays in Birkenhead.

Mr Smith said the IPS had major ambitions for 2014 after doubling its workforce in 2013 to 30 and investing £80,000 on new sheet metal fabrication machinery, a press brake and drawn arc stud welding machines.