Blog

As a part of the Group’s continuity and growth strategy, RVA is delighted to welcome new recruits Nick Clark (Operations Manager), Matthew Hedges (Project Manager) and Jonathan Tann (Project Manager.

These additions, to an already proven operations team, will enable the company to support its clients with an enhanced robust and secure service, as well as providing the resources to tackle new markets over the longer-term.

Following a successful event in December, RVA has been asked to present at the 2nd Annual Decommissioning of Fossil Fuel Fired Power Plants for Utilities Forum in Berlin 2 and 3 June 2016. The full agenda is yet to be announced but it promises to be another one not to be missed.

RVA Group Managing Director has been selected to present at and chairing the secondary of this forum to address some of the key issues surrounding end of life options for fossil fuelled power plants.

The event is expected to be attended by plant owners, operators and contractors.

The Institute of Explosives Engineers recently celebrated its 40^th Anniversary with a lunch at the Special Forces Club in London. It was a fantastic occasion and great to catch up with so many old friends and colleagues. Having served as President of the Institute in 2006 I fully appreciate the importance of gathering as many of the membership together as possible on a regular basis to reflect on the work the Institute has achieved but also to share and enjoy each other’s experiences.

By effectively harnessing the expertise of a diverse range of explosives related disciplines, the Institute has contributed much to the development and use of explosives since it was founded in 1974. Today’s Explosives Institute fraternity consists of engineers, scientists, logisticians, academics and legislators – many of them from the Forces. Overall the members are drawn from 25 different disciplines covering 20 industry sectors.

During my time as a member I have seen many new developments take shape within the industry that have been guided by the Institute in particular with regard to raising education and competency standards. Long may its good work continue.

Faced with the complex and costly task of having to decommission redundant plant? Daunted by all the issues you face? Why not join us at the 2014 Plant and Asset Management show at the NEC from 8^th to 10^th April for an insight from one of the industry’s top experts?

RVA managing director Richard Vann, who founded the company in 1992, will explore the challenges and opportunities of dealing with redundant assets, whilst assuring maximum cost efficiency and safety along with minimum disruption.

Richard will draw on his extensive global experience in decommissioning, decontaminating, dismantling and demolishing plant to lead a seminar on 8^th April from 11.45 to 12.15. Alongside an overview of redundant asset management planning, he will highlight best value strategies, giving examples of projects ranging from a complete site exit to the removal of a single redundant asset from a large-scale, high-hazard, operational site.

He will examine the detailed mix of options available from selling as a going concern or securely mothballing the site to full demolition and will also analyse the issues which drive decisions such as protecting corporate reputation, complying with legislation, selling or relocating assets and ensuring that costs are held in check.

Richard’s seminar will give clear advice to firms as to how to make the right business decision and to judge when is the right time to act. Just as importantly, he will detail the potential pitfalls and problems faced by companies disposing of assets and how to effectively deal with them.

Bookings to attend Richard’s presentation can be made via the show’s website www.maintenanceuk-expo.com You can also visit us at stand 412 in Hall 3.

RVA’s Operations Director Ian Wharton is presenting at the Institute of Demolition Engineers Spring Seminar on Friday 28^th February at the Royal Armouries, Leeds.

A highly qualified and experienced engineer, Ian will share his considerable knowledge of planning and managing international large scale high hazard decommissioning projects.

Entitled ‘Exporting Demolition Engineering and Environmental Health and Safety Excellence’ the seminar will look at how UK demolition opportunities are dwindling and will explore the growing impetus to maximise home grown excellence abroad.

For the past 22 years RVA has been at the forefront of the decommissioning sector and, with over 650 projects completed successfully worldwide, has invaluable experience to share.

Highly qualified and experienced engineer Ellis Hutchinson has joined RVA Group as a project manager.

Ellis’ appointment adds further strength to RVA’s expanding team of decommissioning experts and assists with the company’s continued growth, not only in the UK but also internationally. In the past six months the company has been awarded a number of significant new contracts by leading organisations such including ConocoPhillips and Total. It has also recently established a fully resourced operating entity in Singapore.

Commenting on the appointment Richard Vann said: “We are always looking out for really talented and experienced engineers and we are very pleased to have found Ellis. He brings a great combination of project management skills having worked for a number of the most prestigious names in the energy and power sectors, as well as with leading engineering and project management consultancies prior to joining RVA.”

As a specialist engineering organisation RVA travels the world advising clients on the safest and most cost effective methods for decontaminating and dismantling structures ranging from power stations and chemical production facilities to off-shore oil rigs.

An engineer with many years’ power, energy and petrochemical sector experience, Ellis will initially oversee the CDM co-ordination and project management aspects of a new package of large-scale, high-hazard decommissioning contracts in the North of England.