Whiskey distilleries supplied after £4m contract completion
UTILITY infrastructure business Fulcrum is supplying some of the best whisky distilleries in the world after completing their latest £4.0m contract.
Sheffield business Fulcrum is supplying gas seasonally to the four major distilleries in the Scottish Highlands.
The firm installed a 13-kilometre pipeline to link Scotland’s main gas network to the Tamdhu, Dalmunach, Cardhu and Knockando distilleries in Speyside.
Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Ian MacLeod Distillers have shared the cost of the pipeline, which will also help them reduce their carbon footprints by cutting the distilleries’ dependence on fuel oil.
Fulcrum engineers also had to overcome the technical challenge of running the pipeline across seven bridge crossings.
Fulcrum is not stranger to the Scottish whiskey distilleries, having completed a 25 kilometre pipeline in 2014 in Speyside.
Martin Donnachie, chief executive of Fulcrum, said: “The early completion of this project is testament to the tenacity and technical expertise of our engineers.
“This is one of the most technically-complex gas infrastructure projects delivered in the UK for some time, which makes it very significant to the expansion of the country’s gas network. It proves our ability to overcome a variety of challenges to support the growth of the network in rural or urban environments.”
Keith Miller, Diageo distilling and maturation director, said: “We are delighted to have been able to partner with our Scotch Whisky industry colleagues to invest in this gas pipeline. Scotch Whisky distilling is a crucial sector for the Speyside economy and this is a significant investment in the infrastructure which underpins our business and an investment in the sustainability of our industry.”
Fulcrum has been turning its performance around, in December 2015 it posted it posted pre-tax profits of £1.6m for the six months to September, up from a £0.2m loss a year earlier. Its 2014 figures had delivered a £5m improvement on profitability and Fulcrum’s latest update continues that upward trend.
