RIYADH, 3 October 2006 — Alhamrani Fuchs Petroleum Saudi Arabia Ltd. (AFPSA), which represents the world’s leading supplier of lubricants Fuchs Petrolub AG of Germany, has been seamlessly repeating its success in terms of business, customer service and quality assurance. This Jeddah-based company has, in fact, emerged as a top-ranking front-runner business house with a complete range of lubricants as its core program and customized specialty solutions for multifarious market niches.
This was revealed by Mezahem Hassan Basravi, AFPSA’s chief operating officer, here yesterday. In an interview, Basravi gave an overview of the operation of AFPSA in Saudi Arabia with special reference to the whole range of company’s products and services. He said that AFPSA offered best-class lubricants for diverse applications including lubricants for cars and motorcycles, mining companies, steel industry, vehicle and machinery besides a number of industries.
Referring to the mission of this Saudi-German company, COO Basravi said that Alhamrani Fuchs was formed as a joint venture in 1995 between Fuchs Petrolub of Germany, considered as the largest independent producer of lubricants in the world and Alhamrani group, one of the top Saudi business groups. He said that Alhamrani group had been in the lubricants business since 1979 and became a major lubricant manufacturer and marketer after the construction of its lubricant manufacturing plants in 1988.
He said that AFPSA today has established itself as one of the leading lubricant companies in Saudi Arabia through its very aggressive and innovative business approach.
All products sold in Saudi Arabia are specifically designed for optimum performance under the most demanding operating conditions.
Asked about the products and services offered by Fuchs, Basrawi said that the extensive research and product development program which Fuchs has adopted many years ago and excelled in, has given Fuchs today the cutting edge in German technology.
In terms of quality assurance, he said, Alhamrani Fuchs allocates continuously large funds for providing quality through state of the art equipment and procedures.
The laboratory at the Fuchs blending plant is operated by highly qualified and experienced staff that applies rigorous tests on raw materials and finished products for further enforcement of quality assurance.
Alhamrani Fuchs owns state-of-the-art manufacturing complex in Yanbu industrial city, considered to be the biggest of its kind in the Middle East & North Africa.
Its lube blending facility began in 1988 and was formally inaugurated in 1989. It is spread over an area of 100,000 square meters and comprises of lube blending and grease manufacturing plants, said the Basrawi, while giving details of the facility.
With an installed capacity of 45,000 metric tons on a single shift basis, the current annual production of the lube plant exceeds 100,000 MT and is considered to make up 33 percent of Saudi Arabia’s total lubricants consumption.
Spelling out the details of the manufacturing facility and quality of products, the AFPSA chief said that a complete range of top quality lubricants, greases and specialty products were manufactured here to serve the vast customer base spread all over the Kingdom and abroad. The blending plant is equipped with a highly sophisticated and most modern laboratory to ensure that products being manufactured adhere to the highest international standards.
“We conform to the up-to-date specifications prescribed by the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO), the American Petroleum Institute (API) and European specification (ACEA),” said the AFPSA official, adding that AFPSA has succeeded in its experiment of one-stop car care center.
This project called “One Stop Car Care Centres” was launched way back in 1999 with an aim to elevate the service standard in the Kingdom by offering personalized customer service in a very clean and congenial environment.
“Customers can wait and enjoy a complimentary drink in the air-conditioned waiting room and watch their cars being serviced by qualified professionals and courteous staff,” said Basrawi, while explaining the features of this facility.
At present, a network of 25 centers covering almost all major cities in the Kingdom are operational. Major services offered at these centers include oils & filters, tires, batteries, and some basic under-the-chassis repairs and maintenance.
Referring to the profile of the company, he said, “We are the largest independent supplier of industrial lubricants of the 1,500 lubricants manufacturers around the world”.
“We are also the first in terms of using latest technology for all purposes in the company aside from our own manufacturing,” said Basrawi. To this end, he noted that AFPSA is the first company of its kind to introduce the business-to-business online services, which facilitate mutual exchange of information, request quotations, track orders and deliveries.
This also enables customers to view statement of account, build loyalty, increase sales transactions. Alhamrani Fuchs has been successful in servicing customers through identifying their proximities and making sure Fuchs products and services get their fast.
To add to this is a long list of awards and commendations won by Fuchs. The company has already received ISO-9002 international quality certification, ISO-14001 certification related to environment protection.