Apache North Sea Partners with Glencraft to Create New Offshore Luxury Mattress for its Beryl and Forties Platforms
L-R: Scott Bertram, Glencraft employee, Graham McWilliam, Glencraft Managing Director, Paul Keith, Apache Contracts & Purchasing Manager
Apache North Sea has partnered with Glencraft to provide its Beryl and Forties platforms with new luxury mattresses. The order for over 1,000 mattresses has resulted in a new design, specifically created to provide the highest level of quality and comfort, whilst meeting the stringent fire safety standards required for the offshore environment.
Founded in Aberdeen, Glencraft has manufactured mattresses in the North East for over 176 years. A not-for-profit social enterprise and registered charity which provides employment to people with disabilities, Glencraft supplies mattresses to luxury hotels, sleeper trains, yachts and now, the oil & gas industry. The company even holds a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of supplying mattresses to four generations of the Royal Family at Balmoral Castle.
Scott Bertram, Glencraft employee, adding wool and cotton layers to an Apache offshore pocket spring mattress.
“Apache’s work with Glencraft is an example of the value which can be generated by an integrated Supply Chain Management team,” explains Paul Keith, Contracts & Purchasing Manager. “It wasn’t about securing the cheapest mattresses we could find. It was about investing in a quality product, made from ethically sourced materials, which would provide our workforce with a good night’s sleep.
“The process has been a journey for both Apache and Glencraft. We took the time to learn about the science behind a quality mattress, whilst sharing our knowledge on the safety, strength and durability required for the offshore environment. We also considered the environmental impact and costs associated with future disposal and change out of the mattresses, to ensure we picked the right product for the needs of our business.
“A lot of people worked hard to make this happen and the end result is something which all the Supply Chain Management team are really proud of. Our partnership with Glencraft has created a new luxury offshore mattress, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK and most importantly, which will help to provide quality, restful sleep for our offshore workforce at the end of their shift.”
Scott Bertram, Glencraft employee, seals the edges of the mattress together.
Graham McWilliam, Managing Director of Glencraft, said, “I’m genuinely excited about the introduction of this offshore luxury mattress to our range. It will undoubtedly make a difference to the experience of the offshore workforce whilst on the platform. The feedback from offshore has been tremendous and the team here at Glencraft look forward to our continued partnership with Apache.”
Already in place on Forties Alpha and Delta, the mattresses will be replaced on a phased approach across the remaining platforms. With Glencraft producing 20 of the offshore mattresses each week, the entire replacement project will take 12 months.
- Craig Berry