Cluster Insight With SubC Solutions

Despite challenging times under Covid-19, SubC Solutions are expanding their organisation, hiring new employees and working with several new projects and exciting tenders.

Cluster Insight is a column where we ask six questions to catch a glimpse into the daily business-lives of our cluster partners and members.

This week, we spoke with Asgeir Salen from SubC Solutions to learn more about him and his work in the company.

1. What is your role in SubC Solutions?

My stated role is CEO of SubC Solutions. As with many other smaller companies everyone has to contribute where needed in order to successfully complete our projects.

We take great pride in our on-time delivery record and having satisfied customers, so I sometimes perform in roles such as project manager, engineering and testing, in addition to sales, marketing and business development.

2. Your main focus at work right now is?

Right now, we are finalising qualification work and deliveries for NOV (National Oilwell Varco). In cooperation, we have developed and qualified electronics, software and sensors for a new pig detection system.

In addition, we are working with several other projects and exciting new tenders. Both our Bergen and Trondheim offices have been relocated recently to expand our office and workshop space. Furthermore, two new employees have recently joined our organization.

These processes were not easy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With our new facilities we are now in the process of expanding to improve our production of equipment and solutions.

We continue to work closely with research and development projects. As an example, we have a SkatteFUNN project where we are currently developing and qualification testing a new electrical valve actuator.

We have already manufactured and successfully tested prototypes. Qualification of the electronic boards and plan for final qualification of the complete assembly is on-going.

Normally our business is in the subsea technology market, but we have taken our first important steps into the renewable energy and cleantech solution market. Together with our partner PSW Power & Automation we are engaged in a Hydrogen Safety Infrastructure system project with the University of Tromsø, UiT – Narvik campus.

The project covers hydrogen safety research to demonstrate hydrogen infrastructure and we will assemble, certify and assist to set up a facility in Narvik.

Stakeholders from the Narvik Region who are involved, in one way or another in the project include, Narvik Havn, Narvik Kommune, Nordkraft AS, Smart Narvik, Futurum, Norinnova, Green Hydrogen Tech (GHTECH) and Narvik Sustainable Technologies (NASTECH).

3. Biggest challenges and opportunities for SubC Solutions in the future?

In addition to being a service provider, SubC Solutions is both a technology development and a manufacturing company. Therefore, it is important for us to work closely with our customers and partners.

Obviously the COVID-19 pandemic is a major concern for SubC Solutions as it is for most of society. An escalation of the pandemic could have an impact on our projects and in worst case impact the health of our staff and families.

In addition to our ongoing work, tendering, and new product development we also have an ongoing business with China. We have delivered controls equipment to a Chinese company with success and are in tendering processes with companies in Asia Pacific. This could easily be our biggest challenge and our biggest opportunity at the same time.

SubC Solutions embraces and understands the need to reduce our environmental impact. In the long run, the use of fossil fuels will diminish, but it will take some time before the goal is achieved. We are aware of the irony that we are a supplier to the oil and gas market, but we endeavor to seek solutions to reduce our overall environmental footprint.

Our electrical valve actuator development may replace hydraulic operated actuators used subsea today, and is a first step towards all electric solutions. In addition, we strive to use environmentally friendly materials that can be recycled at the end of its lifecycle. Our new building utilizes solar panels which ensure that our Ågotnes workshop is self-supplied with energy.

4. Best part of being member in a cluster

SubC Solutions has been a member of the cluster since our establishment and we shared office facilities with NCE Subsea at the old postal office at CCB.

The cluster administration is very supportive and gives us visibility and access in addition to offering arenas for networking and cooperation between members, other companies and professionals world-wide.

We have had the opportunity to join the cluster at several exhibitions, seminars and other events. In addition, we have their support within funding programmes for innovation projects, and it is great to be a part of this cluster.

5. Your business motto

SubC Solutions endeavors to meet or exceed our client requirements and we often achieve this by combining innovation with field proven concepts and technology to solve our customers challenges.

SubC Solutions motto is based on a proverb:

“Speed will get you nowhere if you are headed in the wrong direction”.

So, let’s find the best solutions together!

6. Which cluster member should we interview next?

PSW Power and Automation is an innovative and very interesting company. Below the radar they have become one of the leading suppliers of Shore Power and Hybrid Solutions.

Thank you for the insight Asgeir.