FIS CHEMICALS
CLEAN, GREEN AND BLENDED TO PERFECTION
Powered by Inside Marine
insidemarine.com
FIS CHEMICALS
I PROFILE
FIS has dedicated over 40 years to smarter chemistry. Manufacturing more than 1,000 products, the company is a chemicals supplier fully equipped to answer every customer request. CEO Kenny Woods explained more, in an exclusive interview. Report by Imogen Ward.
218 Inside oil & gas
I
nitially established with a client focus
and 2000s. The company’s first major Tier
on the oil and gas industry, FIS has suc-
1 oilfield service contract was awarded in
cessfully diversified into a large array
2012, and FIS has continued to grow and
of sectors; the latest perfectly defining its longstanding commitment to blending
evolve ever since. As part of its expanding range of
green chemistry and utilising R&D to pro-
client sectors and territories, the company
duce more effective solutions for a wider
secured its first major marine contract in
range of customers.
2019, and in 2021, it received its first direct
“Last year, we started supplying to
contract within the Middle East. As a
the biogas sector,” CEO Kenny Woods
result, the company now has the capa-
explained. “It’s an area that heavily relies
bility to blend its products in the UAE
on specialised chemicals, and one we are
and Saudi Arabia to offer more localised
keen to explore further.”
manufacturing. While still headquartered
An abbreviation of founders Fraser,
in Aberdeenshire, being closer to customers
Ingham and Shand, FIS was established
is a top priority for FIS, and in 2022, the
in 1980 to support Aberdeen’s offshore
company made the decision to establish
industry and delivered consistently for
FIS LLC and is now manufacturing in Texas
customers throughout the 1980s, 1990s
for operationsin GOM and beyond.
Inside oil & gas 219
Inside oil & gas 221
FIS CHEMICALS
I PROFILE
Mooring down in marine
protection,” Mr Woods explained. “From
With an impressive portfolio and a
general vessel cleaning, carbon removal,
strong presence across seven sectors,
fuel biocides, drain maintenance and
FIS’ capabilities are highly diverse when
corrosion removal/protection products.”
it comes to the formulation, manufacture
For the marine industry, the company
and supply of chemicals. Two areas of
also manufactures more specialised
particular success in this regard are oil
options. From coolant and defoamers
and gas and marine. With over 75% of its
to water purification treatment, FIS also
revenue accumulating from oil and gas,
responds to bespoke requests to provide
FIS offers a wide range of cleaning and
specific solutions to their customers;
asset preservation products that perfectly
adapting to, and evolving with; specific
accommodate the needs of both sectors.
customer needs, whilst the in-house R&D
This range is especially useful for those
team focuses on developing innovative
working on water and offers a selection of
new technologies.
products that are accredited as environmentally friendly. “We offer a full range of products dedicated to cleaning, maintenance and
222 Inside oil & gas
“Customers reach out to us, asking if we can provide a solution to their problems or if we can enhance a product’s performance,” Mr Woods added. “Often our customers
are using products that aren’t working
continued. “In 2010, we installed a large solar
as expected or are causing subsequent
panel array and a wind turbine that,
issues; so we work with them to develop
together, generate 40% of our electricity
a bespoke product that solves their issue.”
requirements. FIS has always been ahead of the game when it comes to renewables,
Supplying sustainably Keen to avoid stagnation and to
and we want this to continue. “We intend to expand our solar
ensure customers can adhere to changing
plant and install a new battery storage
regulations on sustainability and environ-
system to fulfil 100% of our energy needs.
ment, FIS invests heavily in research and
Currently, we are collaborating with
development. Although the company
Scottish Enterprise on a feasibility study
is dedicated to the development of
to confirm what investment is required to
new solutions it is not afraid to centre
achieve that goal. Although there is still a
that focus inwardly. One of the com-
lot of work that needs to be done, once
pany’s largest ongoing R&D projects
complete, this will be a huge step
is to reduce the carbon footprint of its
towards net zero.”
Aberdeenshire headquarters.
When it comes to the ocean space, FIS
“We are fortunate that our facilities are
takes great care to abide by environmental
on a relatively large plot of land,” Mr Woods
regulations, and its products are CEFAS,
Inside oil & gas 223
FIS CHEMICALS
I PROFILE
NEMS and REACH registered. According to
Another example of this supports cus-
Mr Woods, this commitment is extended
tomers who rely on standalone generators.
to the company’s suppliers as well: “When
Often, these are powered by diesel and
assessing potential suppliers, we rule out
pose emissions reduction challenges. To
any raw components that don’t comply
overcome this, FIS is developing fuel additive
with the environmental regulations: we
products to reduce customers’ emissions
take these guidelines and our dedication
and help to make their generators up to 15%
to green chemistry very seriously.
more efficient.
“The regulations in the UK and Europe
Development of new products comes
are stricter compared to the US and the
naturally to FIS and the company is always
Middle East. However; we are committed
quick to act when it comes to customer
to providing those markets with the same
requests – giving them opportunities to
standard of products when it comes to
be part of this research and development
green chemistry.”
process and verify the effectiveness of new products.
Daring development
“When in the R&D phase, we develop
Another strong focus at FIS is product
alternative products which we share with
development, with several projects cur-
our customers, giving them the chance to
rently underway. Included in this is a major
test them in-house,” said Mr Woods. “This
development for a Tier 1 customer, focused
means it can take us anywhere up to two
on enhanced corrosion protection.
years to bring a new product to market,
224 Inside oil & gas
but it also gives us huge confidence when we eventually do so. “We recently received a request from a customer that urgently required an alternative or replacement to an unavailable product. We took on the challenge, developing and enhancing our solution within nine months. This was incredibly successful and has been quite a boost for the company.”
FIS Chemicals CEO Kenny Woods
As FIS looks to the future, it plans to diversify further – building on core client
supply, we want to be closer to our cus-
sectors such as oil and gas and exploring
tomers, so that’s a key part of our strategy.
new possibilities for growth.
We aim to innovate, diversify, expand
“Of course, the oil and gas industry is
geographically and achieve sustainable
our bread and butter, but we really want
growth to support an even wider range
to further build our presence in other sec-
of customers. The Far East and Africa are
tors such as marine and renewables. In
regions of particular interest.
the past, we manufactured everything in
“We have a long journey ahead of us, but
the UK and shipped it out across the globe.
it is one that, as a team, we are incredibly
Now, with the increasing desirability of local
excited to undertake.”
n
Inside oil & gas 225