(EnergyAsia, February 2 2011, Wednesday) — Schilling Robotics, a US-based specialist in subsea systems to serve the offshore oil and gas industry, said it has opened a new support centre in Singapore, and will open a similar centre in Brazil in April.

The Davis, California company said its international expansion will provide customers in the underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) industry with comprehensive support. Both centres will be operated in partnership with FMC Technologies and will be located in FMC facilities, offering local service, spares inventory, product repairs and technical training.

They will be staffed by teams of local personnel trained to provide level of service comparable to Schilling’s existing Gulf of Mexico and North Sea regional offices.

Each support facility will carry approximately US$1 million worth of spare parts inventory to ensure efficient service to customers.

The Singapore facility has already started taking customer orders and will be providing technical support, including onsite repair of all Schilling manipulator systems, while the 914-sq m facility in Brazil is located in Macaé.

Tyler Schilling, CEO of Schilling Robotics, said: “These expansions demonstrate Schilling Robotics’ commitment to global support for our customers. Our partnership with FMC Technologies has enabled us to expand rapidly into regions that require a comprehensive local presence, and provide our customers with the best support available in this industry.”

Founded in 1985, Schilling Robotics is a leading global, deep-ocean robotics company with regional offices in Texas in the US and Aberdeen in Scotland. In 2008, FMC Technologies Inc, a leading global provider of technology solutions for the energy industry, acquired a 45% interest in Schilling.