01 August 2006

The UAE-based Anticorrosion Control Services (ACS) has recently broadened its horizons by signing an agreement to manufacture, market and distribute the UV (ultraviolet)-curing sheet moulding compounds (SMC), pioneered by Garrard Europe in the UK, for the Middle East and surrounding areas.

The product, which was previously marketed under the names Fibertech and Fibertec, has been renamed SolarTech. The product range, which includes sheet laminates, sealing coats and primers, fillers and repair patches, provides corrosion, chemical, abrasion and waterproof protection to a wide range of applications in all industries.
The UV curing glassfibre reinforced sheet laminate product, in particular, has been hugely successful for a number of years, providing protection to pipelines, vessels, tanks, valves and in the oil and gas and marine industries. The ability to offer seamless protection and ease of application has attracted many clients to use the SolarTech technology.
Charlie Grant, general manager of ACS, is excited about the agreement with Garrard Europe and sees the appointment as a major step in establishing ACS throughout the Middle East as a serious player in offering successful solutions to the many corrosion based problems facing all industries.
 “UV-curing SMC is not new technology,” states Grant, who has 30 years experience in the UAE. “However, Garrard Europe were the pioneers in developing the first successful UV curing glassfibre reinforced sheet laminate and have many years of experience in the development of the patented product.
 “We, at ACS, believe there is massive potential for this technology in the Middle East and have backed that belief in a substantial investment to build, what will be, the first SMC manufacturing plant in the Middle East. We look forward to providing many solutions to the ongoing battle against corrosion,” Grant adds.
ACS, which is part of the MCT Group of Companies established in Dubai in 1984, offers various services to the oil and gas and marine industries and specialises in the supply and application of protective coatings, for both onshore and offshore applications.
 “We have carried out some excellent application work with established companies such as Transocean, Schlumberger, Noble Drilling, Maersk , Anadarko, Femco, Dubai Drydock , D’Amico and Martime, where we have applied various products including the Royal Chemical surface-tolerant , flexible, solvent-free epoxy system, which we represent here in the Middle East,” says Grant, adding that the “recent addition to the Dubai Drydock, their 2,000-tonne floating crane, had over 16,000 litres of Royal Chemical products applied to various areas of the crane barge – which had a significant cost saving on application, given the minimum amount of surface preparation required to apply the product.”
ACS’ activities are not limited to corrosion protection. The company also represents IKM Testing from Norway.
“Leak testing is a specialised business and requires professionalism in supplying top-class equipment and personnel to difficult working areas and conditions,” says Grant.
 “We tied up with IKM Singapore office just over two years ago to carry out all the nitrogen and helium leak testing for Hyundai on the South Pars Phase 4 and 5 project. Over 1 million gallons of liquid nitrogen were supplied in order to undertake the leak testing operation over an 18-month period. It was a very satisfying project carried out under difficult conditions and went a long way to cementing our relationship with IKM Norway,” he adds.
Major activity in the construction, oil and gas and marine industries around the Middle East affords the opportunity to companies like ACS and the MCT Group to expand their operations.
The MCT Group, since its formation, has diversified its portfolios and is involved with anti-corrosion products and construction chemicals. It is currently building a state-of-the-art and eco-friendly manufacturing facility in Dubai Investment Park, where the Solartech product range will also be manufactured.
Peter Gaskin, CEO of the MCT Group, states that the Group has signed a joint venture agreement with Parex Group (formerly Lafarge Mortiers) to manufacture coloured renders and technical mortars.
“Being part of the forward-looking group management team is exciting, given that everyone is happy with the way the group as a whole is developing and the addition of Solartech is testament to the confidence we have in the future,”  Grant concludes.

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