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Joint venture to build Saudi pump centre

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 20, 2006

Al Rushaid Group and Flowserve Corp have ratified an agreement to build the largest OEM pump repair, manufacturing and training facility in the Middle East.

Al Rushaid Group and Flowserve Corp have ratified an agreement to build the largest OEM pump repair, manufacturing and training facility in the Middle East.

Construction of the 20,500m2 complex to be located at the Al Rushaid Oil Field centre in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, will commence in July 2006.

It is expected to be fully operational in October 2007.

The Al Rushaid/Flowserve pump facility will comprise two units: a 17,500m2 pump repair, manufacturing and test facility (quick response centre) and a 3000m2 hydraulics training centre.

Total cost of this joint project will be approximately US $14 million.

It will employ more than 100 people and be fully compliant with Saudisation requirements promulgated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Designed specifically to support Aramco, Sabic, SEC, SWCC and other major industries within Saudi Arabia and the surrounding Arabian Gulf Countries, the Al Rushaid/Flowserve complex 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 facility 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 5965kW (8000hp).

This will cover approximately 90% 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 centre.

This 3000m2 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 centre is being fully funded by the Al Rushaid Group and will be a duplicate of the Flowserve Learning Centre located in Dallas, Texas, USA.

Sheikh Abdullah Al Rushaid, Chairman, Al Rushaid Group, stated: "This joint venture will bring both extraordinary capabilities and benefits to our customers in the petroleum-related industries, 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".

Sheikh Al Rushaid added that technical training for the Saudi youth is a social and national obligation to which Al Rushaid Group is committed.

Lewis Kling, President and Chief Executive Officer, Flowserve Corporation, explained: "This new complex provides us with a solid foundation to serve and support our customers in the Middle East".

"We strongly feel this facility will enable customers to more sharply focus on their core production activities while outsourcing pump maintenance".

"The Arabian Gulf Region is a critically important geographical market for Flowserve as evidenced by this commitment and we are most pleased to partner with Al Rushaid Group to make this a reality".