Safelift Offshore has secured a contract worth more than £4m with TenneT Offshore to design and supply manual handling and lifting equipment for two major offshore wind substation projects in Europe.
The agreement is the largest in the company’s 31-year history and marks a key milestone in Safelift’s transition from its oil and gas roots into the renewables sector.
Founded in 1994 by draughtsman and engineer Peter Innes, the Aberdeenshire-based company began as a small workshop in Dyce before moving to a larger purpose-built facility in Kemnay in 2019.
Safelift’s portfolio now includes lifting baskets, trolleys, cranes and custom-built solutions for specialist applications, including ATEX-certified equipment. The business also provides technical procurement services through alliance partners and approved manufacturers.
Managing director Steven Simpson, appointed in 2023, said: “Securing the largest contract in our history is a clear signal of how far Safelift has come – and where we’re going. It reflects our readiness to support the energy transition, combining decades of engineering experience with a growing global client base and deep technical procurement expertise. We’re proud to be recognised as trusted experts in delivering safe, innovative solutions for the energy sector.”
To meet growing demand, Safelift has invested over £1m in upgrading its Aberdeenshire headquarters, including a new fabrication facility supported in part by the Energy Transition Zone. The expansion provides enhanced working conditions, increased floor space and capacity to manage larger projects.
The company now employs 36 people across its operations, including its sister division Safetrade, which supplies handling equipment for onshore industries. Safelift has also expanded its project team with new hires to support rising workloads.
The business continues to strengthen its international footprint, serving clients across the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia, and is targeting further overseas growth through 2026.
Safelift said the TenneT contract represents not only a commercial milestone but also recognition of its long-standing engineering expertise and investment in infrastructure as the company positions itself to support global offshore wind growth.