DHAHRAN, 6 June 2006 — Dhahran-based Al-Rushaid Group and Dallas-based Flowserve Corp. signed a joint venture agreement yesterday to build the largest original equipment manufacture (OEM) pump repair, manufacturing and training facility in the Middle East. The construction of the 20,500 sq m complex to be located at the Al-Rushaid Oil Field Center in Dhahran will commence in July. It is expected to be fully operational in October 2007.
The new pump facility will comprise two units — a 17,500 sq m Quick Response Center (QRC) and a 3,000 sq m hydraulics training center. The total cost of the joint project will be about $14 million. It will employ more than 100 people and will be fully compliant with Saudization.
Designed specifically to support Saudi Aramco, SABIC, SEC, SWCC and other major industries across the Kingdom and the surrounding Arabian Gulf countries, the Al-Rushaid/Flowserve QRC will have the capability to address the service and repair needs of all pump products regardless of original manufacture. Among its capabilities will be pump manufacturing, pump set packaging, parts manufacturing, a full range of pump improvement engineering and engineered services. Field service along with installation and commissioning will also be provided.
A key component of the QRC will be the region’s largest, most capable hydraulics test bed, certified testing to API, and international standards will be available for both horizontal and vertical pumps including high pressure applications to more than 5965 kW (8000 hp). This will cover about 90 percent of the region’s installed base. The test bed will allow end users to verify equipment performance or diagnose and correct problems. Upgrades to existing pumps can also be recommended to improve efficiency and reliability.
Another unique feature of the Al-Rushaid/Flowserve development will be the Middle East’s first hydraulics training center. This 3,000 sq m unit will have state-of-the-art classrooms along with static and dynamic laboratories. Courses of study will be comprehensive, covering basic hydraulics theory through advanced maintenance and repair and technical services. The training center is being fully funded by the Al-Rushaid Group and will be a duplicate of the Flowserve Learning Center located at its US headquarters in Dallas.
Abdullah Al-Rushaid, chairman, Al-Rushaid Group, said: “This joint venture will bring both extraordinary capabilities and benefits to our customers in the petroleum- related industries, and in the chemical processing and power generation sectors.
“To have this extent of pump service/repair, testing and training is truly an essential component in the growth of our most important industries. We expect nothing but positives in this and future endeavors with Flowserve,” Al-Rushaid said, adding that technical training for the Saudi youth is a social and national obligation to which Al-Rushaid Group is committed.
Speaking on behalf of Flowserve, Lewis Kling, CEO, Flowserve Corporation, said: “This new QRC provides us with a solid foundation to serve and support our Middle Eastern customers and their equipment needs. We strongly feel this QRC will enable customers to more sharply focus on their core production activities while outsourcing pump maintenance to a competent OEM. The Arabian Gulf region is a critically important geographical market for Flowserve as evidenced by this commitment and we’re most pleased to partner with Al-Rushaid Group to make this a reality.”
The Al-Rushaid Group of Companies is an international organization which offers and provides a diverse range of engineering and contracting services, facilities, and products including but not limited to oil and gas, petrochemical, chemical processing and power generation industries. These services include design, engineering, construction and procurement as well as project management and maintenance for entire plant operations, storage tanks, and high quality prestigious buildings and environment services, development of ports and terminals. It is ranked ninth among the top 100 Saudi companies.
