DANISH conglomerate Ramboll has gained a foothold in the Aberdeen oil and gas services market with the acquisition of Apply Altra, part of the Apply Group.

Ramboll, which will rebrand the business under its eponymous Oil & Gas division, said the deal is in line with its goal to boost staff numbers and expand its geographical reach. Apply Altra, established more than 20 years ago, will continue to offer large-scale engineering facilities to the oil, gas and renewables sectors under its new owner.

It currently employs 50 staff in Aberdeen's Union Plaza development and it is understood Ramboll plans to build on that number.

Ramboll said it is now looking to recruit a new manager to lead the north east company, which has carried out work for clients such as Maersk Oil, Total E&O, Apache, Dana Petroleum and Maersk FPSO.

Trond Helland Bynes, executive director at Ramboll Oil & Gas, said: "Presence in the UK and especially in Aberdeen has been on our wishlist for several years, and with the acquisition of Apply Altra, we have a building block on which to base our future presence in the UK."

Apply chief executive Peder Sortland said Altra was now "considered a non-core activity" for the group.