Multi Engineering Reach Milestone
Since their beginnings 20 years ago, MULTI has been involved with over 60 basic and detail design, conversion and operational support projects on offshore vessels and structures acting as installation vessels, support ships, jack-ups, work boats, supply vessels, lifting barges and wind farms. And the stage is set for future success with an impressive track record and organisational changes.
“Over 20 years we have grown to an engineering group employing over 300 people present in three countries with seven offices. We intend to continue this growth in a sustainable way while developing further into the same emerging markets as our current group of customers, but always into markets that are close enough as well geographically, as being complementary to our current engineering playing field. We will only invest in new office infrastructure if it clearly would serve the benefit of our customers, e.g. due to the need of physical presence close to the production facilities in order to enhance communication lines during projects,” states Chief Operations Officer Niko Fierens. “Despite the currently harder offshore market we believe there is room to differentiate MULTI further as an independent engineering company that can help customers to optimise their fleet management, to review their fleet technically with a focus on the efficiency of their operations and to invest smartly into future opportunities.”
A Success Story
After experiencing the bankruptcy of Cockerill Yards and the Boelwerf at close hand as Engineering Manager, Etienne Van Goeye had the idea of setting up a business of his own that would provide technical experts to customers on a project-by-project basis, combined with his own design and engineering bureau. This was the start of a success story with definite roots in the maritime world, but which was expanded over the years into industry, and later building and infrastructure as well. Over these 20 years Multi Engineering has experienced constant growth, while simultaneously retaining its family character. Important clients include IHC, DEME, Geosea, Jan De Nul, Parkwind, Belwind, Fabricom, UOP, Huisman Equipment, Scaldis, Damen, De Hoop Lobith, Eide, Tideway, G&G and Gardec.
Challenge Perspective
“Throughout our existence we have successfully overcome some economic crises, we met quite a few technical challenges during the over 1,500 design and engineering projects, we have grown from a single company to a multi-satellite group with offices in the Netherlands, Belgium and Slovakia, and recently we have moved to a centralised one MULTI Group,” says Mr Fierens. MULTI sees each and every challenge has always been approached in the same way: common sense, focus on the positive side and the future, and where needed with the help of external specialists. Challenges that are currently being worked on include the implementations of the new group structure and maintaining a fast and flexible customer service within a continuously growing organisation.
“We devote a great deal of attention to personal contact with customers. A successful formula, after all, the better you know your customers, the better you can anticipate their needs and requirements. We also aim to be a good employer to its engineers. Effective support, good training, and a personal touch ensure that experts start each day keen to do their job,” states Mr Fierens. And the list does not end there. MULTI will continue to invest in hiring and training of their engineers, with the intention to enhance their presence in the offshore engineering market and focus even more on concept and basic designs, consultancy and operational support towards customers present in the Offshore Support and Installation market. “We are looking forward to intensify our cooperation with shipyards, designers and asset owners on innovative and ever challenging vessels and offshore projects,” Mr Fierens concludes.