FTR expands services to Brazil

Setting its sights on Brazil in late 2020, FTR expanded its Americas presence with the opening of a Central and South American office in the heart of Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, and appointed well-known and respected country manager, Rodolfo Paciello, establishing a long-desired presence in the area.

Since opening the office, and despite the difficult market conditions caused by the ongoing global pandemic, the company has gone on to win several project and framework agreements with key industry players in-country, including work on major offshore developments.

Work scopes already executed have included the surveillance of SURF equipment, flex joints and forgings, safety-critical weld inspections and materials testing of goods on-site.

Supporting the development of business in-country, Diego Mota has been working with FTR since February 2021. Bringing more than 15 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, Diego has an extensive track record in asset management, operations and business development throughout Latin America, working at Petrobras and other local IOCs.

Diego said: “I’m delighted to be working with FTR and developing the business here in Brazil. The Brazilian market has been tough, but we’re beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. A lot is happening here, with some very exciting projects and I’m proud to bring FTR’s expertise and professionalism to those projects.”

Committed to local employment, FTR is planning to kick off a recruitment campaign for approximately 30 in-country inspectors to support various client requirements and on the ground administration and co-ordination support.

Brock Falkenhagen, Regional Manager for FTR’s Americas business, commented: “We had planned for an expansion into Brazil well before the pandemic hit, but we still saw the possibility and potential of the Central and South American market and forged ahead. We’ve picked up work quickly here and there’s a lot of potential, both in Brazil and the wider South American market.

“For us, it’s crucial that we establish footholds in proximity to our global clients. We are able to provide a much more effective service this way, and that is true of our expansion into Brazil.”

FTR has offices in the UK, Mozambique, US, Malaysia, Australia, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Brazil, and is currently looking at other areas of expansion.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/offshore-and-subsea/27052021/ftr-expands-services-to-brazil/