Saudi Arabian-based Arabian Pipes Co constructed an oil and gas pipe plant in the capital Riyadh that covered a total surface area of approx. 25,000 m2. Etteplan acted from 1990 to 1997 as technical consultants, working in close cooperation in designing the plant. Etteplan’s staff at the Oulu office started work when the customer received the first offers for a tube extrusion machine.

The first phase of the project involved negotiations, and the plant’s technical specifications and drawings for the procurement agreement. Once the commercial agreement for the production line had been signed, Etteplan supervised the general, layout, machine and electrical and automation design as well as machine shop fabrication. The work included planning reviews, inspections, further development and final documentation. The customer also wanted Etteplan to plan and supervise the plant’s handover and performance testing as well as to assess the plant’s laboratory, inspection and maintenance equipment.

Etteplan’s strengths were experience and mastery of project management and design, its independence from equipment suppliers and its good reputation as a reliable, cooperative partner. The customer was satisfied with Etteplan’s input and the job led to another project to plan a plant for the same customer.