Well Services Group speed up European expansion

With acquisition of French petrochemical specialist Nitrovia

Nitrovia

Nitrovia's David Delquignie (left) with Harry Schepers, WSG

Published: 21st February 2023 | Issue 81

WSG Industrial Services BV (WSG) has extended its reach into the European gas and petrochemicals sector with the 100% acquisition of French company Nitrovia for an undisclosed sum.

Nitrovia, based near Aix-en-Provence, provides a full range of services to the petrochemical, refineries and pipeline industries, and has experienced strong growth since its inception by the Air Flow Group in October 2020.

WSG is the largest independent provider of process, pipeline and industrial services to the UK and European refinery and LNG terminal sectors, and the 1000-strong business also provides commissioning, valve services, specialist NDT, inspection, and well intervention services.

Nitrovia’s core management team, David Delquignie and Marc Montagut, will continue to grow the business across continental Europe under the WSG brand. Widely respected in the French industrial services sector, Mr Delquignie and Mr Montagut have a combined 40 years’ experience in engineering, sales, maintenance and project design.

WSG European Regional Director, Steve Jones, said: “It has been our vision to expand our operations into France and by aligning with Nitrovia, who have an excellent long-standing reputation in the petrochemicals and refineries space, we can build on their strong foundation by consolidating existing relationships and pursuing new opportunities.

“This strategic acquisition adds value to our proposition and propels us forward on the road to achieving our stated objective of expanding the WSG brand across key European markets.”

Nitrovia have particular expertise in providing inert services and also provide leak testing, nitrogen purging and drying, hot stripping, pre-commissioning and decommissioning, pipeline displacement and pigging services.

Harry Schepers, General Manager for WSG Industrial Services BV, added: “Nitrovia have a business model very similar to existing WSG operations in the Netherlands and the UK and we can mutually benefit from synergies and knowledge sharing.

“The industrial services sector in France is massive and this acquisition is an exciting opportunity to stake our claim in that market and to eventually expand into the neighbouring Benelux countries where presently we don’t have representation.”

David Delquignie said: “With WSG’s proven technologies and investment capabilities, we can fast forward the growth trajectory of Nitrovia, which will create job opportunities and elevate the company to a new level.”