Prior Power Solutions, the leading UK manufacturer of premium pumping equipment for the offshore oil and gas sectors, is gearing up for significant growth in 2026 on the back of record results over the past year.
The long-established Great Yarmouth business enjoyed unprecedented demand for its high-calibre nitrogen pumps from markets across the world, notably in South America, west Africa and Australia.
As a result, it more than doubled its combined sales and rentals of nitrogen pumps while securing sales of three new fluid pumps and two hydraulic power units. The increased business has led to a 10% year-on-year increase in the workforce.
Nitrogen pumps are crucial pieces of equipment in the oil and gas industry. They convert liquid nitrogen into high-pressure gaseous nitrogen and help keep wells flowing freely.
High-pressure nitrogen is also an effective medium for pneumatic testing the integrity of pipelines, valves and pressure vessels.
Because nitrogen is an inert, non-flammable, and non-corrosive gas, it is ideal for many oilfield operations where safety and stability are essential.
Aside from their inherent quality, one of the major attractions of the pumps produced at Prior Power Solutions’ 10,000sq m site is the compactness of their design, helping operators maximise the efficiency of their oil rigs and platforms, where deck space is at a premium.
James Rix, managing director of Prior Power Solutions, said core to the record performance in 2025 was the introduction of a rental business, launched with £1 million of investment. A further £3.3m will be made available during 2026 as the company doubles the number of pumps available for rental.
“The impact of our nitrogen pump rental offering has proven to be a genuine step change for the business,” said Mr Rix.
“It has improved our margins and opened the door to repeat and long-term customer relationships. It demonstrates our ability to identify opportunities, invest decisively, and execute effectively.”
The rental business proved to be hugely popular and highly profitable, with early customers in several of the big global energy marketplaces, including Europe, North Africa, South America, the Gulf of Mexico and Australia.
Nitrogen pumps are a significant capital expenditure (‘capex’) for clients, typically requiring sign-off at C-suite level. By offering units on a rental basis, Prior Power Solutions was able to meet customer needs via the operating expenditure (‘opex’) route, speeding up the decision-making process and removing much if not all of the perceived risk of ownership.
On the back of the initial success, Prior is now seeing increasing levels of interest from energy companies based in the Far East, central Asia and eastern Europe. It is also witnessing a growth in enquiries about a combined rental and purchase model.
Adrian Sharman, sales director at Prior Power Solutions, confirmed nitrogen pump manufacturing was at an all-time high, with the 180k model leading Prior’s drive into the global energy sector and Africa finishing top of the 2025 export league table, taking about 40% of total exports.
“These are exciting times for us at Prior Power, and we’re delighted to be flying the flag for UK industry in such a vital sector of world trade,” he said. “We have a nitrogen pump in every continent except Asia, and we’re confident we can break into that territory this year.
“All our rental nitrogen pumps are less than two years old in a market where a lot of similarly priced product is anywhere up to 15 years old.
“So we’re offering good-as-new, state-of-the-art equipment at highly competitive rates and with all the reassurance that comes from dealing directly with the original manufacturer who knows the product inside-out. That’s a compelling story.”
The 180k is designed to pump and vaporise 180,000 SCFH (standard cubic feet per hour) with pressures up to 10,000psi. Prior Power’s next most popular model is the 90k (90,000 SCFH).
Beyond individual pump rentals, Prior Power Solutions is also enjoying increased rental demand for entire nitrogen service packages including over-pressurisation skids and critical spares.
Another area for growth for Prior Power Solutions is the outage work – maintenance, repairs and inspections – being carried out by the company’s skilled teams on oil and gas platforms and, increasingly, at gas-powered power stations around the country.
“Our outage work reinforces our ambition to be recognised as a trusted partner that can deliver at scale, reliably and professionally,” said Mr Rix, adding that negotiations were under way to carry out similar work at nuclear power stations around the UK.
Mr Rix said none of the success being enjoyed by Prior Power Solutions would have been possible without the hard work and flexibility of his workforce, which includes seven apprentices from the local Great Yarmouth area and which will go beyond the 100 mark during 2026.
“Over the past 12 months, we have taken our understanding of our customers and their needs to new levels,” he said.
“Our engineers have come up with innovative solutions, our sales team has travelled extensively to win new business, and we have produced our own training materials and delivered training programmes around the world.
“That level of personal engagement and on-site support is greatly valued by our customers and sets us apart from the competition.”
Mr Rix was grateful for the trust being placed in Prior Power Solutions by its parent company Suretank, whose founder and director is well-known Irish entrepreneur Patrick Joy.
“We’ve been delighted with the growth of Prior Power Solutions,” said Mr Joy. “The business continues to be strategically important to Suretank because it strengthens our ability to serve global energy markets with high‑performance, mission‑critical equipment and services.
“Prior Power’s expertise in nitrogen pumping, liquid nitrogen transport tanks, well service equipment and energy sector support solutions complements our wider portfolio, creating a fully integrated offering that spans design, manufacture, certification, and field operations.”
