Since 1980 Doha-based Gulf Incon has been supplying internationally- renowned products to engineering contractors in Qatar's growing oil and gas sector and has established itself as a reliable and resourceful vendor to the local industry.

The company represents some of the world's leading producers of welding products and equipment, welding accessories, power tools, industrial and hydraulic hoses, packings, seals and gaskets, industrial coating products, high performance repair products, grouting systems, expansion bellows, safety products and comprehensive engineering consumable products and equipment for core industries and project supplies.

Gulf Incon chooses its global partners carefully to support the full range of product requirements for customers in Qatar. With welding products forming 40 per cent of the product mix, Gulf Incon acts as distributors for Sweden's ESAB, the largest welding group in the world, and Inco Alloys, which provides a range of high nickel alloy products and consumables for welding. Harris of Italy offers a wide range of gas welding products while the Brent range of Non-Destructive Testing chemicals and equipment adds to the impressive welding range.

Gulf Incon also represents other product leaders, such as Dunlop (industrial hoses), James Walker (packings, seals and gaskets, ring joints), E Wood Ltd (high performance repair products and industrial coatings), Metabo (power tools and accessories), Bilsom (ear and breathing protection), Jallatte (safety shoes), Kemet (lapping and polishing systems), Munro & Miller (expansion bellows) and Magnus (hydraulic tools). In association with James Walker, Gulf Incon will soon be setting up a manufacturing facility in Doha to produce spiral wound gaskets (from 1/2" to 24", Class 150-600) and cut gaskets up to a maximum OD of 2,130mm and thickness of up to 12mm.

Gulf Incon operates from a 900 sq m showroom in Doha and a huge warehouse-cum-workshop in Salwa Industrial Area, where round-the-clock sales and service of all products is available.

The company is committed to quality, and is accredited to ISO9002 and certified to BVQI. Its customer-focused approach led to Gulf Incon winning the Best Distributor of the Year 2000 title among all ESAB exclusive distributors in the Gulf region, a coveted milestone achieved by Gulf Incon more than once.

It was also recognised by Harris for its outstanding sales achievements last year.

With this strong product back-up, a technically-qualified sales team dedicated to providing engineering solutions and prompt local repair facilities, Gulf Incon has been an integral part of the development of some of Qatar's most important oil and gas projects.

For the National Oil Distribution Company (Nodco) refinery, Gulf Incon was the principal supplier of a low hydrogen electrode OK53.68 when the plant was expanded in 1982. The fine performance of the electrode in terms of weld quality and strength led to its adoption by other contractors in Messaieed as well as Qatar General Petroleum Corporation (QGPC) workshops.

For the North Field Phase I gas developments, Gulf Incon was chosen as the supplier of all welding consumable products to international contractors such as Consolidated Contractors International Co, Belleli Saudi Heavy industries, Saipem (Italy), Fochi (Italy) and Qatar's Mideast Constructors. Gulf Incon's participation in this prestigious development was, according to the company, testimony to its expertise in pre-planning technical requirements, high levels of personal service and technical interaction, together with competitive pricing.

During the development of Ras Laffan port, Gulf Incon offered uninterrupted supplies of hard-facing electrodes, low hydrogen electrodes and rugged diesel welding generators to main contractors Condotte SpA and Ras Laffan Dredging Company.

For the Qatargas project, Gulf Incon and ESAB supplied a 9% nickel electrode - specially manufactured for cryogenic applications - for the steel LNG tanks and other welding consumable products to various contractors on the project.

More recently, Gulf Incon has been a major supplier to various upgrade works for Qatar Petroleum (QP) at the onshore Dukhan oilfield and at Ras Laffan LNG project. In April of this year, Gulf Incon installed the first ESAB Circotech mechanised girth welding machine, at Manco International's site in Qatar, for the production of storage tanks. The Circotech system enhances productivity by 35 to 40 per cent over conventional welding methods, according to Gulf Incon.

The company is now looking to build on its unrivalled project experience and technical and equipment back up, and is keen to further utilise its inherent strengths in Qatar with its global partners.