EagleBurgmann, one of world’s leading mechanical seal manufacturers, has a strong presence throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to complement its strategy of being just a stone’s throw away from its customers

EagleBurgmann started operations in Saudi Arabia in 1993, initially based in the Eastern Region, when Burgmann signed a sales representative agreement with local Saudi company GAS Arabia Services. In 2004, Burgmann opened service workshops in Dammam, staffed by just one service engineer and no dedicated salesperson but managed and run by its local partner GAS Arabian Services.

In late 2009, EagleBurgmann (EBKSA) moved to a new manufacturing, sales, and service facility in Al Khobar, and since 2010, led by Jeff Stewart (managing director), sales have multiplied nearly six-fold. In January 2011, EBKSA gained official local manufacturer status (9COM/9CAD) for both mechanical seals and gaskets with the world’s largest oil company Saudi Aramco.

In addition, EBKSA has also been recognised as a key local manufacturer and service supplier to Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), the second biggest chemical company in the world. This has been achieved, and can be measured by equipment supplied, as well as local projects ongoing and completed with many Sabic affiliates such as Safco, PetroKemya, Ibn Rushd, Saudi Kayan, Ibn Sina, Kemya, Yansab, Sharq amongst others.

In 2011, further development to meet customer needs meant the opening of two regional sales and service operations in Jubail and Yanbu respectively.

Jubail, in the Eastern Region, has witnessed dynamic growth in recent years with the expansion of existing Sabic affiliates, as well as construction of new companies such as Satorp and Sadara. To support its growing customer base in this vitally important area, EBKSA set up a new sales and service centre, and the success of major contract bids for projects such as Sadara and Satorp, as well as the growth of business opportunities with Ma’aden, the government owned mining and minerals company, has meant the Jubail service centre is strategically placed to take advantage of both current and future growth.

Shortly after the opening of the Jubail facility, a second new sales and service centre was opened in the Western Region in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia’s second biggest petrochemical and refining zone cater to the growing customer base there, as well as a sales office in Jeddah.

In 2013, (EBKSA) was recognised within the EagleBurgmann business as No 1 globally based on the number of awarded pump seals and seals including compressor DGS; No 2 based on number of awarded DGS and No 2 based on the total order value for new projects.

LIVING AND WORKING IN SAUDI

EBKSA currently has ten different nationalities making up its workforce with individuals from Europe (UK and Turkey), Central Asia (India and Pakistan), Africa (Egypt and Sudan), as well as from regional Arab countries (Yemen, Jordan, Palestine) and Saudi Arabia.

NITAQAT (SAUDI NATIONALISATION)

A major challenge to EBKSA growth plans is the in-kingdom drive by the Saudi Arabia government to nationalise the workforce (Nitaqat), which involves companies meeting stringent and compulsory targets in employing Saudi nationals.

EBKSA has embraced this philosophy and has actively recruited and trained Saudi nationals, utilising them in every area of