Celebrating 50 years with more in the pipeline
Published: 08 February, 2019
One Tyneside based organisation with its roots in Germany is celebrating 50 years in business and says it is looking forward to a promising future.
Based at the Watermark in Gateshead, RTR GmbH & Co., is an independent international specialist supplier of steel pipes, tubes and pipe fittings primarily for the power generation industry. RTR says it engages with clients to source specified products from their international supply chain. It also offers a comprehensive project management service managing the technical implementation of projects including the detailed and intensive monitoring of all manufacturing and delivery schedules.
The firm was established on 6th February 1969 in Ratingen, Germany, by three partners Klaus Ries, Klaus Thiel and Karl Ruser with the initials of their surnames forming the company name of RTR.
As well as the head office in Ratingen, Germany, the organisation has other offices in Hoyerswerda, Germany and Częstochowa in Poland, with more emerging markets abroad planned for the near future. In 1977, the firm opened its UK office in the North East where it has grown from its humble beginnings and now employs seven staff.
Philip Ross, joint managing director and co-owner of RTR GmbH & Co. (along with two German partners) is the longest serving UK based employee with more than 33 years' service with the company. In addition a number of employees across Europe whom have been with RTR for over 25 years, add to the knowledge and experience of the organisation.
"We operate in a range of sectors, including nuclear, power plant refurbishment, pcpeline Construction, the chemical and petro-chemical sector as well as plant engineering. The strong relationships we have with our customers and supply chain have been built over decades of collaboration. As our clients have moved forward with such projects as environmental upgrades, we have moved forward with them, working in Biomass, Waste to Energy and other renewable processes. RTR work in a very demanding environment so in today's business world, achieving 50 years of excellent service and the ability to consistently react to our customer's changing needs is a significant milestone.
"We have a great team here in the North East and along with our global colleagues, without whom, none of our successes or longevity would have been possible. We operate across the globe and our team are pivotal to RTR's success. As we celebrate our special anniversary, I'd like to thank them all for their dedication and support. My thanks must also go to all previous members of the RTR family.
"I've seen many changes in the way we do business and it's all very positive but there's never any room for complacency in today's market place. That's why we need to be just as business focused in the next 50 years as we were in the last," he said.
