Gulf Construction Online - Atlas Copco gains rental strength

Compressors

Two XAMS445s supply air power to two Atlas Copco drilling rigs at the Al Mahjar Quarry.

Atlas Copco gains rental strength

01 October 2003

Bahrain's first Atlas Copco XAMS376 portable air compressor is one of three new units ordered by Abu Amer Equipment Hiring Company, a leading plant hire company in the country.

The company is said to have Bahrain's largest fleet of Atlas Copco compressors rated at between 90 and 900 cu m/min.
According to the company's founder and managing director A Rasool Abu-Khudra, the company took delivery of its first Atlas Copco compressor in 1993, shortly after a competitive unit had been delivered and proved to be unreliable with poor back-up.

'I believe reliability is paramount in the rental business,' says Abu-Khudra. 'It is important that the local dealer must also provide reliable and good back-up facilities.'
Since taking delivery of its first compressors, Abu Amer has standardised on Atlas Copco with a fleet of almost 35 air compressors.

The latest order, for a further three compressors - an XAMS376, an XAMS446 and an XAMS286 - has been placed through local distributor Gulf Equipment and Technology, with whom Abu Khudra enjoys an excellent service relationship.

Rental is a relatively new concept in Bahrain, but one which is becoming increasingly accepted as companies recognise key advantages with improved availability.
'As we prove we can supply customers on demand, contractors recognise that buying is no longer a necessity,' says Abu-Khudra. 'Recently, we were initially unable to supply a certain rating for a specific rental, we therefore ordered the compressor immediately from Atlas Copco.'

Generally, Abu Amer supplies its small range of compressors for construction-related applications with the larger models being rented for industrial and blasting operations.
Two XAMS445s from Abu Amer currently provide air power for two Atlas Copco ROC601 pneumatic drilling rigs at the Al Mahjar Quarry in Bahrain. Both compressors have been rented on a monthly basis by drill and blast contractor Bramco, to meet additional production, complementing the company's existing fleet of Atlas Copco compressors.

Atlas Copco is an international industrial group with its head office in Stockholm, Sweden. The group produces and markets compressed air equipment and generators, construction and mining equipment, electric and pneumatic tools, and assembly systems and offers related service and equipment rental. Its popular brands include Atlas Copco, RSC, Milwaukee Electric Tool, Chicago Pneumatic, and AEG Power Tools.