15/09/04 SeaMark Geotechnical breaks new ground as Consolidate

Broxburn-based ground engineering specialist SeaMark Geotechnical has rebranded as Consolidate in a move to better reflect its core areas of operation.

The name change also marks the launch of a new development strategy for the £4m turnover company as it seeks to expand further into other areas of activity.

The bulk of current work is focused on the consolidation of old mineworkings to enable house building, retail and commercial development and similar construction works to take place. But now the company, which employs 45 people, will be looking to develop its business in other areas of expertise, including ground anchoring, soil nailing and mini piling.

Consolidate director Beaton Sutherland says: "We were experiencing confusion over our previous name on a near daily basis - despite having used the identity for 10 years - and decided that by rebranding we could provide a direct link that will allow clients to associate us with our principal areas of operation, particularly ground consolidation."

Ground Consolidation involves securing old mineworkings that underlie proposed building developments. This is achieved through the drilling of small diameter boreholes and the pressure injection of cement-based grouts.

"Abandoned mineworkings are a recognised problem in many areas of central Scotland. Government legislation and the trend in ever-increasing land values has led to a demand to develop marginal land and brownfield sites. Our core ground consolidation business has been growing steadily to meet this demand and should provide a very solid base alongside which we can develop our expertise in the other ground engineering services," states Mr Sutherland.

Consolidate will remain as a division of parent company SeaMark Systems Ltd, which is based near Maidenhead and specialises in offshore grouting and the manufacture of concrete products for the offshore oil and gas sector.

- Areas of ground engineering expertise provided by Consolidate include mining consolidation, ground anchors, soil nailing, mini-piling, cementitous and chemical grouting, leak sealing, void filling, probe drilling and rock stabilisation