Element Invests in Aberdeen to Establish European Centre of Excellence for the Energy Market

London, UK - 11 September 2025 - Element Materials Technology (“Element”), a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification services, has announced a USD 3 million investment in Aberdeen, expanding its operations in the city and establishing a European centre of excellence for the energy market.  

 

The investment builds on Element’s track record of delivering fracture mechanics testing services to the global oil and gas industry for several decades and supports clients looking to safely transition to clean and sustainable forms of energy, in particular hydrogen.  According to MarketsandMarkets, the global hydrogen pipeline market is projected to grow from just over USD 9 billion in 2023 to nearly USD 26 billion by 2030.

 

This strategic investment consolidates Element’s existing operations in Aberdeen into a single, upgraded facility at Altens Trade Park - widely regarded as the city’s premier industrial zone and the future hub for companies in oil and gas, renewables, and hydrogen technologies. The USD 3 million investment includes enhancements to building infrastructure, the installation of 16 new fatigue testing frames - capable of performing either hydrogen or sour fracture toughness testing - and upgrades to IT systems.

 

Aberdeen, long recognized as a global energy hub for its expertise in oil and gas, is now leveraging that legacy to lead in renewable energy production and the broader energy transition, including hydrogen development.

 

“This investment leverages our deep-seated knowledge and expertise in fracture mechanics testing, and, by investing in innovative hydrogen testing methodologies, we are establishing ourselves as a trusted partner to support the energy transition,” said Lee Brough, VP for Element Aerospace & Defence in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. “Aberdeen is one of the world’s most established energy centres, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing presence here to meet growing demand from customers.”

 

As part of the initiative, Element will vacate its current Hareness Circle site, relocating all equipment and personnel to the new Altens Trade Park location. The upgraded infrastructure not only enhances operational efficiency and testing capabilities but also provides a modern, welcoming environment for employees and visiting clients.

 

The expansion is planned for completion in the first quarter of 2026 and further investment opportunities will be explored by Element throughout 2026 in line with evolving market trends.  

Notes to Editors:

Fatigue and fracture toughness testing are critical methods used in materials science and engineering to evaluate how materials behave under stress and over time - especially in demanding environments like oil & gas, aerospace, and hydrogen energy systems.  It is used to test aircraft components, pipelines, offshore structures, automotive parts.

  

Hydrogen material qualification testing is a specialised process used to evaluate how materials perform when exposed to hydrogen - especially under high pressure and temperature. This is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of components used in hydrogen infrastructure, such as pipelines, pressure vessels, and fuel systems.

 

Element is one of the world’s leading providers of laboratory-based testing services. We support 50,000+ customers operating in some of the world’s most technical and highly regulated industries where failure in use of their products, materials and technologies is not an option. Headquartered in London, UK, Element’s 8,500+ scientists, engineers, and technologists, work across a global network of 270+ laboratories, and support customers from early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals, and into production ensuring their products are safe and sustainable and achieve market access.

 

About Element’s Aerospace and Defence Business Unit 

Element Materials Technology is the largest independent provider of materials testing, product qualification testing, calibration, and advisory services to the global Aerospace Testing sector. With 43 laboratories in the Americas and 58 in EMEAA, including 29 Nadcap accredited labs with 41 different Nadcap accreditations, Element supports the entire aerospace supply chain. 

 

Element's 3,000+ technicians, engineers, and scientists, backed by over 100 years of experience in both commercial and military aerospace testing, deliver a comprehensive range of destructive and non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection services for a wide variety of materials, components, products, and systems. The company's unrivaled international capability, footprint, and geographic reach enable it to support Aerospace Primes, and their supply chain partners throughout the entire product life cycle, from R&D to manufacture, life extension, and disposal, helping them to develop better products, get to market on time, save time and money, and minimize business risk.

 

For more information, visit: https://www.element.com/aerospace or follow us on LinkedIn.

 

Kate Aldridge, VP Communications, E: kate.aldridge@element.com M: +44 7767 705364