Gulf Construction Online - OTC Rental’s fleet in hot demand

Pumps & Compressors

OTC Rental’s fleet in hot demand

As Qatar’s economy reaps the fruit of unprecedented growth, the rental fleet market has witnessed an upswing. And OTC, with its fleet of 300 Atlas Copco units, is all set to cash in on that opportunity.

01 May 2010

DESPITE the global slowdown, Qatar is currently enjoying buoyancy in its economy, on the strength of increased production in the gas industry and government-related projects, particularly its rental fleets.

“We are beginning to see a slow return with a significant swing towards rental,” says P Rajagopalan, rental fleet manager for OTC Rental.
The upswing in the rental market, according to Rajagopalan, is due to contractors completing current projects, and with many projects on hold, they are continuing to cut risk and rent. This trend is likely to continue for some time, even when confidence in the market returns, he adds.
Atlas Copco’s distributor OTC (Oriental Trading Company) has a rental fleet of almost 300 Atlas Copco units comprising 175 compressors and 50 generating sets – making it one of the largest compressor fleets in the region. The fleet is made up of five models ranging from 190 cfm to 850 cfm and was recently expanded with an order for 50 compressors and 20 generating sets. The fleet also includes up to 30 oil-free compressors from Atlas Copco Specialty Rental to cater to the specialised needs of the petrochemical and gas industries of the country.
“We have not replaced a single unit within the rental fleet since we carry out essential and regular maintenance to combat the local conditions like high ambient temperatures plus very hard and abrasive, dusty ground conditions,” says Rajagopalan.
“As the dealer, we have direct access to parts replacements. Instead of selling the older units to the used equipment market for the equivalent of a month’s rent, we prefer, with regular maintenance and parts replacements, to achieve a further 12 months rental.”
“Also in key sectors, such as shot-blasting and painting, we can respond immediately to customer demand if a problem should arise by supplying a new replacement straight away,” he says.
Currently two XAS 186 compressors from the OTC Rental fleet are being used for the ‘bottom out’ of two 38-m-deep shafts on Doha North Sewage Treatment Station for the Vinci Construction Grand Projects QDVC and Entrepose Contracting joint venture. The compressors are being used for jackhammer power and air cleaning duties on the shafts, which were excavated in the extremely hard limestone and coral ground conditions by continuous hammer techniques.

The XA 136 and XAS 186 (top) compressors ... winners.

Achieving ‘bottom-out’ at 38 m depth, makes the project Qatar’s deepest sewage pumping station.
Meanwhile, Imperial Trading and Contracting Company (ITCC) used a combination of its own Atlas Copco compressors and a fourth XA 136 compressor from OTC Rental for its Darl Salam project, which comprises 151 villas and 328 apartments. Phase Two of the project is expected to include one of Doha’s largest shopping malls and a mosque.
OTC Rental has also supplied a number of Atlas Copco compressors to ITCC for the construction of three schools in Doha. All three schools in the suburb of Mamoura are two-storey buildings totalling 9,500 sq m in built-up area and the contracts were awarded by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal).
Atlas Copco is an industrial group with world-leading positions in compressors, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. Portable Air, a division within Atlas Copco's Compressor Technique business area, develops, manufactures and markets portable compressors, boosters and generators for prime or standby power worldwide. Products and services are offered to the construction, rental and general industries under several brands. The divisional headquarters and main production centre are located in Antwerp, Belgium.