2024 has been a year of milestone moments here at SMD, with a key achievement being the sale of our 100th underwater plough.
Developed in 1971 as the original SMD world first, this legacy product embodies the pioneering spirit for which we are best known.
Formed from the ingenuity of our founder, Dr Alan Reece, this technology transformed cable burial techniques globally, propelling us to the centre of the telecommunication sector and sparking industry-wide changes that continue to this day.
As the first simultaneous lay and burial subsea plough system, this vehicle combines reliability and adaptability in one neat package.
Burying telecom and power cables up to 350mm in diameter and pipelines up to 1,500mm in diameter, it features powered steering and variable depth control to maximise cable protection. It can also be supplied with several configurations, including tow load capabilities from 80Te to 350Te, making it perfectly suited for numerous applications.
Half a century later, approximately 97 percent of the world’s communications are carried by fibre optic cables, laid using techniques developed with the SMD underwater plough.
During this time, our world-first record has grown from one to twelve, and our team has grown to over 250. We are passionate about the underwater industry, with its endless opportunities and challenges. As we head into 2025, we will continue to honour our past while pursuing a better future for all.
In addition to our milestone plough sale, our team has celebrated a number of key achievements, including:
● Selling our first electric ROVs, the Quantum and Atom EV
● Welcoming onboard 70 new employees, including 10 returners
● Awarding 22 well-deserved promotions
● Opening a brand new services facility
● Exceeding our ambitious financial targets
● Investing £250K in clean energy at our headquarters
● Being awarded Silver by Investors in People
● Achieving our ISO14001 (Environmental Management System) accreditation
To our partners, collaborators and employees, thank you for another fantastic year. We look forward to the many achievements that 2025 will bring