Dave Oberczyk joined ACE Winches almost 14 years ago as a welding fabricator and since then, his career has rapidly developed. As Head of Sales for ACE Winches, he shares more about being part of the Ashtead Technology group and what life is like in this fast moving and challenging industry.

It has been nine months since the acquisition. What can you tell us of the journey so far? 

It’s hard to believe it’s been nine months, but it’s clear that this acquisition has already opened some fantastic opportunities for us. 

One of the highlights has been the collaboration that has developed almost immediately. We’ve brought together some brilliant minds from across the group, and we’ve launched a couple of projects that are already showing great promise. Watch out for some exciting news about collaboration between ACE Winches and our survey team in the next few months. 

From project design to delivery, our customers now have access to a much wider range of products and services across the Ashtead Technology subsea and back deck technology offering.

What opportunities do you see for growth and development as part of the Ashtead Technology group? 

Our core business at ACE Winches of equipment rental for lifting, pulling, and deployment remains the same and we are continuing to develop and add new equipment to our offering.   

As part of the Ashtead Technology group, we now have twelve strategically placed hubs in the UK, USA, Norway, Middle East, and Singapore, which means we are connecting with a broader audience, and we are better placed to provide local support to our customers internationally.  

You have been with ACE Winches almost 14 years.  Tell us about your career journey so far? 

I started my career with ACE Winches back in 2010 as a welding fabricator which means I know exactly how our equipment works, and what bit of kit or package of equipment is needed to do a particular job. 

I then trained as a Mobilisation Technician before progressing to a Mobilisation Controller role, overseeing the testing, spooling, preparation and mobilisation of all our rental equipment.  

Going offshore to our clients’ sites to install and commission our equipment, gave me first-hand experience of what our clients require from us.  At ACE Winches the maintenance of our equipment, which is used in some of the harshest conditions is very important. We ensure every piece of equipment is kept to the same quality standard as the day it was manufactured.

It was 2015 where my sales journey began, and I was given the opportunity to become a Sales Engineer. It was a relatively smooth transition from the workshop to the office, as my hands-on experience with our equipment allowed me to not only recommend and provide the right solution to our customers, but also offer solid technical and practical operational advice as well. 

Initially, I focused on the UK rental market, but as my experience and knowledge grew, I started covering international markets. Just in the last few weeks we’ve had equipment mobilising to South America and to Gulf of Mexico, as well as Australia so this really is an international operation. This progression led me to roles as Sales Manager and now Head of Sales, which has been a long-term goal and a significant achievement for my personal growth. 

It’s clear you have a real passion for the business and what you do.  Is it true you know every item of equipment in the rental portfolio?

Yes, it’s true and I take great pride in knowing the ACE Winches offering and equipment portfolio inside and out. Of course, none of this would be possible without the wider ACE Winches team and our expert engineering team and technicians. Their skills in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance of our equipment are the backbone of our operations. The dedication they bring to their craft ensures that every piece of equipment we offer is of the highest quality and reliability.

I’m fully invested in our success. Our collective efforts are what make this business so dynamic and rewarding, and I am proud to be a part of it.