Marking an impressive 40 years of service in the global energy industry, Apex Tubulars has established itself as a leading stockist and supplier of premium quality downhole casing, tubing, and accessories. With its headquarters in Aberdeen, Apex Tubulars continues to work alongside a diverse range of clients across the world, blending technical expertise with a strong customer-focused approach that has solidified its reputation over the years.
As part of this milestone celebration, we sat down with International Sales Manager, Ronnie Grant - an integral part of the Apex Tubulars team. With decades of experience in the field, Ronnie brings invaluable insight into the company’s journey, challenges and achievements.
From building strong relationships with clients worldwide to playing an important role in the company’s international growth, Ronnie shares his thoughts on Apex Tubulars’ journey so far and discusses what is next for the business…
Apex Tubulars is celebrating 40 years in business - can you tell us how the company started and what it specialises in?
“Apex Tubulars was founded in 1984 by Donald Milne, who saw an opportunity in Aberdeen to supply the oil and gas sector with specialised oilfield equipment, such as casing, tubing and drill pipe. It was a smaller company back then, operating out of the Tyseal Base in Aberdeen. Over the years, Apex has transformed into a much larger business, with a solid reputation and yearly turnover reaching over $40 million, as well as a wider reach that includes markets like Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Africa.
“One of the unique challenges we’ve built our reputation around is our ability to meet urgent requests for casing and tubing. In the industry, clients often face tight turnaround times and need to find stock quickly, and that’s exactly what Apex specialises in. Through our alliances around the world, we can access stock in various locations and come up with a supply solution for our clients that meets their complex requirements. Our clients return to us time and again because they know we can deliver under pressure, and they carry this positive experience with them to new projects. We strongly believe that it’s not just about having a big business; it’s about proving that we can meet clients’ needs with reliability and quality.”
How has the industry evolved over the last four decades, and how has the company adapted to meet those changes?
“Over the last 40 years, the oil and gas industry has undergone significant changes, particularly in the North Sea. Back in the early days, major players dominated the field, and decisions were often swift and less structured. Over time, the industry became more organised and strategic, moving towards structured contracts and planned partnerships with suppliers for services like casing and tubing. Today, however, we’re seeing a concerning shift as the UK government seems intent on limiting domestic oil and gas production, despite the ongoing need.
“In recent years, we’ve focused more on our environmental footprint, transitioning to a paperless office, supporting local conservation projects like the River Dee Trust and physically planting trees and building dams to support restoration. Our new office has also been designed with energy efficiency in mind, using sensor-controlled LED lighting to limit power usage. Although these changes may seem small, as a company of just six people, we’re committed to doing our part, and it’s a shift that, if widely adopted, could make a real impact.
“Shifting demand in the UK has also pushed Apex to operate more internationally, pursuing new markets and opportunities in regions outside the North Sea, as well as getting involved in new sectors like lithium production, carbon capture and gas storage - reflecting the industry’s broader movement to diverse energy solutions.
“Despite these changes over the years, I remain as passionate as ever about my role and Apex as a business, and it’s rewarding to work alongside talented colleagues, including my son, Lewis. While the sector faces challenges, our commitment to this work and to responsibly meeting the world’s energy needs remains top priority.”
What have been some major milestones over the last 40 years?
“I would say that one of Apex Tubulars’ proudest milestones is the dedication and longevity of our core team - Jim, Susan, Symon and myself. Between the four of us, we bring nearly 100 years of combined service to the company, which is a significant achievement in itself and testament to the commitment that has fueled Apex’s success worldwide.
“We’ve also had the opportunity to support major international projects. In Papua New Guinea, we delivered $16 million worth of casing to Oil Search, marking one of our largest projects. We also supplied the first casing for Cairn Energy (now Woodside’s) exploration Wells in Senegal, as well as playing a vital role in Galp Energy’s initial drilling campaign in Namibia - a turning point in the company’s success.
“Moving to our new offices in Westhill a few years ago was another milestone. Our new space is smart, clean and welcoming and reduces commute times and fuel usage for our team. We’ve also adapted a work-from-home policy, supporting the team’s work-life balance and helping reduce fuel consumption - a small but helpful way in which we’re making a positive environmental impact.”
How has your role developed and what do you see as your key contributions to the company’s success?
“My role at Apex Tubulars has always drawn from my prior experience and global network of contacts which I’ve built over the years. As International Sales Manager, I’ve approached every project with a high standard of professionalism, genuine care and a commitment to doing the best possible job. I always aim to leave a positive impression on every client, ensuring they trust and feel confident working with us.
“My contributions over the years have centred around industry knowledge, a global perspective and a commitment to high standards. We’ve worked hard to build and retain our clients’ respect, which we consider a huge achievement. Since I joined Apex, both my role and the business itself have evolved significantly, and we’ve expanded our global client base and strengthened our industry standing. Our new and improved website has been a great asset in this, extending our reach and visibility, and it’s now starting to show real results by amplifying Apex’s reputation even further.”
What has been the most rewarding aspect of working for Apex Tubulars?
“It has to be the positive feedback we receive from our customers. Our commitment to high standards and our ISO 9001 certification reflects this dedication, and we’re proud to see consistently high customer satisfaction levels as a result. We know Apex wouldn’t be where it is without clients who genuinely value what we do and enjoy working with us.
“Watching Apex grow and deliver on major projects across the globe has been equally rewarding. A standout moment for us was our delivery of 250,000 feet of casing to Papua New Guinea - a $16 million project pulled together from suppliers worldwide and delivered without a single issue. Successfully executing jobs like this in countries all over the world makes me incredibly proud to be part of Apex Tubulars, and it’s a testament to our high standards which we’re committed to maintaining every step of the way.”
What are your future ambitions for the company and how do you plan to continue driving it forward in the years to come?
“My future ambitions for Apex Tubulars focus on steady growth, building new and looking after existing clients relationships and expanding into emerging markets. At the heart of our plan is simply to keep doing what we do best; maintaining a quality service and building meaningful relationships with our clients.”
Get in touch with our expert team today: https://www.apex-tubulars.com/contact-us