Global hazardous area computer manufacturer invests in future R&D and production

World-leading specialist technology company HMi Elements are eyeing future market growth, creating six new jobs across their Malton and Leeds offices, boosting R&D and production capability by 35%. With more investment planned as demand for oil and gas grows.

HMi Elements are the specialists in innovative computer solutions for the oil and gas industry, specifically computers that are used in hazardous areas all over the globe.

Customers include the world’s leading blue chip oilfield businesses.

And their expertise and products are more in demand than ever before. They are busier than pre-pandemic, with orders topping the £1million mark in July alone.

HMi has created four new jobs at Malton, the company’s UK headquarters and main production facility. Two in Leeds to focus on research and development, growing the R&D team to seven to accelerate new product development. And one new procurement role, expanding the team to streamline worldwide sourcing of material.

CEO Howard Gould says: “This job creation and investment in our business marks an exciting next chapter in our 30-year history. We switched on new product development at the start of this year, our order book has continued to grow quickly, and so we have created new roles in production, R&D and procurement. This will help us to power further growth in our key target markets with new products and technological hardware innovations.”

The business is also proving to be as tough as the explosion proof products it produces, having weathered the harsh economic conditions of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and ongoing supply chain issues affecting components and delivery.

Howard adds: “It’s certainly been challenging, but we’ve come through the storm, so to speak, with a healthy order book this year and into 2023. The only remaining challenge is sourcing components. To address this, so that we can continue to fulfil orders and maintain the high quality we’re known for, we have redesigned around some scarce product parts and are sourcing alternative components from different parts of the world.”