The big 10: Valves

Oil & Gas Middle East profiles the region's major upstream valve players in a hugely competitive Middle East market.

Valve manufacturers and distributors worldwide number in the hundreds, so there is always a wide range of different options when it comes to picking your valve or flow control solutions - but they do say that variety is the spice of life.

With such a large spectrum of choices, something that is growing thanks to the new and cheaper manufacturers located in China and India, it has forced many of the Western hemisphere companies, mainly from Europe and the US, to ensure a very high standard is kept in the valves they produce.

This, however, has not been easy. Price fluctuations in raw materials have not helped, and the plummet of the global economy only added to their woes. Thankfully, projects in the upstream have not been hampered too badly by such issues, and valve companies have mostly kept themselves afloat.

This Special Report focuses on ten valve manufacturers and distributors operating within the region, to gain a brief insight into each of the companies and the products that they are providing during this eventful period.

1. Fisher Valves & Instruments (Emerson)

Fisher Valves has a long history of service, dating back nearly 130 years after its establishment in the US. After being acquired by the service giant Emerson over 14-years-ago, the company has reinforced its position as the largest manufacturer and supplier of control valves to oil and gas businesses across the world.

"We think of ourselves as more sophisticated than other manufacturers of control valves, as we provide a more complete package and system than just an emergency shut-down valve," explains William Luehrs, vice president and general manager Middle East and North Africa, Fisher Valves.

"The reason we say we are better is that we take care to engineer the internal part of the valve, and we have developed - in our opinion - the most sophisticated controls to go on top of the valve for things like very quick opening, control and diagnostics, which is very important for the whole plant operation."

Luehrs explains that the Fisher valves can save money not just by lowering maintenance costs due to better build quality, but by maintaining better throughput by improving control of raw materials through its automated control system.

Renowned customers of Fisher include the region's biggest player, Saudi Aramco and Sabic - Saudi Arabia traditionally being the company's biggest market.

"Qatargas has also been a big market for us with their investments in LNG, and our business development focus is moving more towards Abu Dhabi now, with an impressive number of investments and projects coming up that we are now targeting for Fisher," says Luehrs.

Despite a sluggish start for 2009 experienced by most, Luehrs is resonantly positive about the future of Fisher and Emerson in the market, and attibutes that to the company's commitment of providing a complete local service capability.

"We are now what I call a quote to cash operation here in the Middle East. When I came here six years ago the whole of Emerson was more of a sales and service support group; now it has gone from four to 100 people in just our division, and we do the quotes, the engineering, the manufacturing, servicing and education, out here in the Middle East," states Luehrs.

2. Dresser

Dresser Industries has been providing a wide range of technology products and services to the oil and gas industry for over a century. With 2007 revenues of approximately US$2 billion, the Texas-based company operates in three principal segments: measurement systems, flow solutions and power systems.

"In the last two years we have seen an incredible upward trend in demand, and consequently we have increased our market share at a tremendous rate. When I joined the turnover for this unit was around US$13 million, now after two years we are expecting nearly double this," says Maurizio Cinque, managing director, Dresser Middle East. "Dresser has also increased manufacturing capabilities, including in low-cost countries like India and Brazil.
We are focusing very strongly on building our local presence to the customers with more sales personnel."

3. Tyco Valves and Controls

Part of the larger Tyco conglomerate, a highly diversified manufacturing company with revenues in 2007 of around US$18.8 billion, Tyco Valves and Controls remains one of the largest manufacturers of valves to the oil and gas industry.

The company has over 15 000 employees based in 100 offices, located in 24 countries around the world. The Middle East headquarters, based in Jebel Ali, Dubai, is strategically positioned to serve the region and has a global team of experienced and knowledgeable technicians to ensure a high quality service, the company states.

"Valve selection is dictated by the application it is to be used, but primarily valves are used for isolation, control and safety relief. We are chosen as a supplier for our proven track record, efficient design, high quality and proven reliability," says Christophe Melinette, managing director, Tyco Valves and Controls Middle East.

"You have to deal with high temperatures, pressures and volatile chemicals in the oil and gas industry, so only the very best designed and manufactured valves can work safely and reliably under these conditions," says Melinette.

READERS' COMMENTS

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM