County Durham based engineering specialist Dyer has launched SST Group, a new UK engineering group created to strengthen the supply chain for critical industries such as defence, energy and transport.
The group was established following a £1.625 million investment from NPIF II – Maven Equity Finance (part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II) and the Finance Durham Fund, established by Durham County Council and overseen by Business Durham. Both funds are managed by Maven Capital Partners.
SST has been formed out of the growth and success of Dyer Engineering, which for almost five decades has served global OEMs and primes with complex machined metal components and fabrications.
The name Smarter, Stronger, Together reflects the group’s guiding principles – shaping its culture, driving decision making and uniting its companies in a shared purpose to deliver for customers in the most demanding sectors.
As part of its launch, SST has completed the immediate acquisition of Q-Laser, a Sunderland based specialist in laser cutting, press braking, waterjet cutting and fabrication.
The addition of Q-Laser significantly broadens national capabilities, enabling SST to simplify supply chains by offering a wider range of advanced manufacturing services under one group, deliver critical defence components with greater flexibility and responsiveness, and scale rapidly to support complex and large scale projects when required.
Together, Dyer and Q-Laser create a £20 million group, employing over 250 highly skilled people across the North East.
Graeme Parkins, Strategic Growth Director for SST Group commented, “Critical programmes demand reliability and the ability to innovate at pace which is exactly what SST has been built to deliver. The acquisition of Q-Laser strengthens our ability to support OEMs with smarter solutions, stronger supply chains and the assurance of a UK based partnership.”
The new group will use the investment to support future organic growth, invest in new technologies and develop the next generation of engineering talent, ensuring it continues to grow its role as a trusted partner to vital industries.
