Cottam cleans up with China deal.

A FIRM which makes brushes used in cleaning and inspection of oil and gas pipelines has joined forces with a Chinese company.

Hebburn's Cottam Brush and Beijing Pipeline Science and Technology will create a new hi-tech way of cleaning and inspecting oil and gas pipelines in China.

Cottam Brush, which has been in operation for about 150 years, specialises in the design, development and manufacture of brushes for pipeline inspection and cleaning.

In collaboration with the Chinese group, Cottam will develop innovative brushes that will allow more accurate reporting of corrosion from the brushes as they pass through pipelines. Sensors will be attached to the brushes and they will take measurements from the pipeline walls.

The information will then be transmitted back to the maintenance team who will monitor and record the readings, allowing them to make better informed decisions on maintenance and repairs required.

Managing director Ben Cottam said: "We needed to structure our relationship with Beijing Pipeline Science and Technology correctly with a well designed and constructed agreement enabling us to capitalise on this opportunity, but also protect ourselves in the event of any future problems."

CAPTION(S):

LONG REACH Cottam Brush managing director Ben Cottam has signed a collaborative deal with a group in China.