Mainticare, Atlas Copco in strategic partnership deal
Atlas Copco Specialty Rental - a division of the Swedish giant Atlas Copco - has signed a partnership agreement with Mainticare Ltd of San Gwann Industrial Estate covering oil and gas (O&G) equipment rental services. The agreement envisages integrated support to service off- and onshore O&G customers operating within the Mediterranean and North African sectors.
Mainticare, a member of the Ablecare Oilfield Services Group, specialises in offering maintenance and repair services to oil rigs onshore and offshore, apart from supplying downhole equipment for oil drilling exploration campaigns in several Mediterranean and North African countries, including Libya, Tunisia and Algeria.
Atlas Copco Specialty Rental is to set up a base, which is to be run by Peter Smets, Business Development Manager O&G, within the offices of Mainticare in San Gwann. Atlas Copco Specialty Rental will be offering a comprehensive range of its products from Malta, including both oil-free and oil-injected air compressors, generators, nitrogen membrane units, air boosters, dryers and auxiliary equipment and other O&G-related equipment.
Horst Wasel, President, Atlas Copco Specialty Rental, who was in Malta to sign the agreement, said: “With its ability to offer a complete equipment rental package to meet very specific oil and gas customer needs, Atlas Copco Specialty Rental is ideally positioned to offer a seamless extension of the services already provided by its partner Mainticare.
“This co-operation will further strengthen our position in the oil and gas rental market in the region. New and existing customers will benefit from the enhanced support that is provided by having the right people and reliable equipment close to the centre of their operations.”
The two-year agreement, effective from July 1, 2010, was signed for Mainticare by Jonathan Borg, Business Development Director, who said: “Our partnership with Atlas Copco Specialty Rental is a perfect match for our well-established oilfield services. Atlas Copco has a health and safety-led approach to its operations, backed up with well proven products and support.
“We are looking forward to a successful partnership and are certain it will benefit our customers.”
Atlas Copco has over 130 years experience as world providers of productivity solutions with a workforce of 27,000. It develops and manufactures industrial tools with which a third of the cars produced worldwide are built. It is also active in mining and construction, demolition, exploration and water drilling. It has a superior productivity and safety record and has a heavy investment in research and development.
Atlas Copco set up the Atlas Copco Specialty Rental division in 2007 with a global base of 700 employees. It operates 90 customer centres and was looking for a partner in the Mediterranean to fulfil its customer demands in a more effective and efficient way.
Mr Borg met Tom Deckers, Business Line Manager of Atlas Copco Specialty Rental, based in Milan, last October at an oil and gas event and this led to the signing of the agreement. Following the agreement, they will be marketing their services jointly at the next oil and gas event in Cairo, Egypt, in June.
“Malta is without a doubt the strategic centre for North African countries but also going into the Levant, including Turkey,” Mr Wasel said. “We will be basing all our equipment in Malta, which will be readily available for uplifting for rental contracts with major operators in the area. In future, we will be looking into creating a Service Department and employing mechanics to service and line up the equipment.”
Mr Wasel said the first year will be devoted to building links and strengthening relationships with customers. Atlas Copco Specialty Rental is prepared to invest as the market develops.
Mainticare Ltd is a member of the Ablecare Oilfield Services Group.
Among the services to be provided under the new agreement will be those to drilling rigs, production platforms, work on wells, testing contractors and heavy duty contractors. A full package of services is being prepared, with the loading of the equipment from Malta.
Both organisations place a heavy emphasis on safety, reliability and efficiency. Atlas Copco Specialty Rental has a ‘safety first, zero accident’ approach, which is triple certified by Lloyd’s Register for quality, health, safety and the environment.
Atlas Copco Specialty Rental has the biggest oil-free air rental fleet in the world with over 2.5 million m3/h of air compressors. It has diesel-driven units of up to 3,865 m3/h per unit and electric-driven units of up to 2,688 m3/h per unit. Operating pressures are up to 45 bar (g) for oil-free units and up to 155 bar (g) for oil-injected units. The division offers 24/7 transport, service and maintenance, plus a full range of accessories.
Both Mr Wasel and Mr Borg agreed that this was the start of an evergreen collaboration and strategic alliance that who be extended in the years to come.
