10 years of Work in Qatar
It is now 10 years since personnel from ”Plastverkstedet” (the plastic-shop) were in Qatar first time. That was a job for Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO). 10 years ago ”Plastverkstedet” was part of Hydro’s operations. Today the shop operates under BIS Production Partner Verkstedproduksjon in Porsgrunn. Personnel still travels to Quatar for consulting, utilizing their plastic materials competency.
Picture: Espen Lund (at right) works with a locally employed worker.
21 men have participated during a turnaround at Qatar Vinyl Company (QVC). This is a factory which shares characteristics with the VCM-factory and the chlorine-factory at Rafnes in Telemark, Norway.
Competency
The first time we were engaged by QVC was 8 – 9 years ago. QVC were then in need of personnel with plastic materials competency for a reclamation job at the factory. They did not want to use the German company who had delivered the equipment, but chose us, states the shop superintendant Kjetil Groa.
After completion of this job,”Plastverkstedet” has worked with QVC 8 times. BIS Production Partner has a general agreement with Qatar Vinyl Company, which includes consulting services and other deliveries of maintenance, rotating machinery, fireproof masonry, and deliveries from “Plastverkstedet”.
The last turnaround BIS Production Partner participated in, was last November. 21 personnel were in Qatar up to a week-and-a-half; tell plastic-mechanics Steinar Sørum and Kai Tore Nordheim. The two supervised the work during the turnaround.
On time, with quality
Why does QVC hire personnel from companies located on another continent?
Our employer has been very satisfied with our work. There have been no faults on our installations. BIS Production Partner works independently, resulting in no interference with QVC’s maintenance organization while we do our work. We know what has to be done, and we perform for completing the job.
”Plastverkstedet” competes with German, Dutch, and Italian companies. They all have comparative cost profiles as we have. In the end quality of work decides. Therefore we get these assignments. We have been given signals that we are preferred during a turn-around this summer of 2010.
Versatile
”Plastverkstedet” has 28 employees. All are certified skilled tradesmen having required licenses for servicing industry, oil industry, and the municipal sector. The Workshop is also certified for working with all types of composite-materials.
We take care of minute details in plastic but are also constructing a sub-sea vessel for Kongsberg Maritime Subsea Division, tells Groa. We deliver products and services to land-based and offshore industry.
Plastic is the preferred material over steel for many reasons. Plastic stands chemicals better than steel; corrosion problems do not exist; plastic has less weight and is often less costly than other materials.
Plastic is a versatile material, explains the shop Superintendant. Some shapes are easier to mold in plastic than to fabricate in steel. Plastic materials have long life-spans and lowered maintenance cost, weight, and price. Our products may be applied in most industries, and within the municipal sectors, such as water-supply.