Aker Solutions was certainly not alone at this year’s Offshore Technology Conference in Houston. Attendance reached a 29-year high of 78,150, up eight percent from last year, as offshore energy industry experts from around the world came together at the world’s largest event for offshore resources development. OTC was held 2-5 May at Reliant Park in Houston.
![[Image]](/Global/Drilling%20Technologies/Drilling%20lifecycle%20services/DLS%20newsletter%20-%20issue%203/OTC-day1%20-%202011.jpg "[Image]")
Attendance surpassed the 2010 total of 72,025, and the sold-out exhibition was the largest since 1982 at 603,000 square feet, up from 568,000 square feet in 2010. The event had 2,520 companies from 40 countries.
Recruitment
At OTC’s final day admission is free for college students, meaning that recruitment of tomorrow’s engineers was top of the agenda for Aker Solutions.
Kate Winterton from our Houston office, commented: “We have been receiving resumes all week and a large amount today. They are from people looking for permanent positions as well as college students looking for internships within the fields of electrical and mechanical engineering”.
Business
Although recruitment was high up on the agenda, selling our products and services was another key focus. Our many sales reps did an excellent job throughout the show’s four days.
“Based on conversations I have had with people on our booth, I have already received two RFQs (requests for quotation) from potential new customers. Not massive jobs, but certainly very interesting ones. So I am very pleased with OTC this year,” said Ryan Clark, sales manager with Aker Wirth.
Our booth
Aker Solutions’ booth had a huge number of visitors throughout the show. Many highlighted our booth as one of the best. One of these were Magnus Vågen Birkenes, editor of leading Norwegian oil industry news channel www.petro.no, who had visited a significant amount of booths during the show.
“Your interactive solutions, which offer something different, grab people’s attention and gets them into your booth area. Your booth is also clearly visible from all angles with your square Aker Solutions banner in the ceiling. Kudos to your people who have designed and developed your stand,” said Magnus Vågen Birkenes.
Well done to everyone in our OTC team for making the event a big success!