Robertson Geo targets new international markets after global growth surge
Robertson Geo targets new international markets after global growth surge
Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.
Geophysical and petrophysical logging specialist Robertson Geo is preparing to accelerate its international expansion following a period of sustained growth and the opening of new headquarters in Conwy.
The company, which already exports 95% of its sales to overseas markets, operates in more than 160 countries through a network of over 25 approved agents, supported by operational bases in the United States and Hong Kong. It employs 55 people worldwide.
Sales and Marketing Director Steve Parry, who has been with Robertson Geo for 45 years, said the business had undergone a dramatic transformation from its early days as a UK service provider to becoming a recognised global leader in its field.
“In the early days, we had to be adventurous, my boss gave me an atlas and told me to go sell,” said Steve, originally from Bangor.
“These days, exporters have numerous tools at their disposal, ranging from the internet and social media to webinars, government export initiatives, and even AI. Back in the day, before the internet and mobile phones, the primary source of information was the Yellow Pages!”
Recalling his early years building overseas markets, he added: “Travelling all over the world I could find myself in the middle of nowhere in those early days, it was a risk. I’ve been shot at, stranded in deserts, and even lost a car in a flash flood, but it’s been an incredible journey from there to where we are now.”
Robertson Geo was founded in the early 1980s to provide services to the British coalfields. Its international footprint grew quickly, taking on contracts in Indonesia, South Africa, New Zealand and other markets.
By 1984, overseas clients began requesting the purchase of its in-house designed equipment, shifting the company’s focus from services to product sales and sparking an export-led growth trajectory that continues today.
“Many UK exporters focus on Europe,” Steve said. “We decided to take on the world. From zero exports in 1984, we were selling to over 50 countries within a decade. Today, 98% of our equipment sales are international and we are looking to do more in emerging markets in central Asia and Africa.”
The company’s global strategy has been built around cultivating long-term relationships, trust, and direct customer engagement.
“Selling is the easy part,” Steve added. “Supporting customers globally and providing after-sales service is where it gets tough, and where we’ve really excelled.”
As part of that commitment, Robertson Geo is preparing to launch the RG Academy, a new international training programme to be run from its Conwy headquarters and delivered globally, starting with sessions in the USA, Middle East, and Asia.
“We’re proud to bring clients from across the globe to North Wales,” said Steve.
“Our new headquarters marks the next chapter of growth, and Conwy will be at the heart of it.”
Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials
Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast
