Wescosa, one of the Gulf's prominent manufacturers of electrical distribution products, has said it is actively seeking a role in the Iraq development project.

The company said its marketing team was "all geared up" to secure a "considerable share" of the requirements for the kind of products it produced at its Dammam plant and was in contact with Bechtel Corporation and Kellog Brown and Root for pre-qualification.

Wescosa recently added factory space of about 37,000 sq m. Some of it will be used as a warehouse while other parts will be dedicated to the manufacture of switchgear, motor control centres (MCCs) and large transformers.

The new plant is being built as part of an expansion programme begun in 2001. Wescosa has supplied large power transformers to Saudi Aramco, the manufacture of which took place at its main facility. The manufacture of large transformers will be carried out at the new facility once it is completed.

The company has drawn up diversification plans in which marshalling cabinets, capacitor bank units, relay control panels, surge arrestor units and electrical overhead cranes figure prominently.

Up to eight per cent of total sales is accounted for by exports. Products going overseas, mainly the GCC region, include distribution transformers and cable support equipment.

"We are actively pursuing exports to other Arab countries and are venturing into Syria, Sudan, Jordan and Lebanon," said a company spokesman.

Wescosa is implementing what it describes as a large Syrian order for the supply of power transformers and expects deliveries to be completed by he end of June.

The company has carried out several expansions and installed machinery including inspection and testing equipment to enhance the overall sales turnover. The spokesman would not divulge what the turnover was or provide other performance details.

An Amada laser-cutting machine, a CNC router machine and an HVAC cooling system, were recently installed.

The company has ordered additional plant and machinery, which is to be delivered shortly. The list includes a powder coating plant and a vacuum chamber, an oil filling plant, impulse equipment, a box and folding machine, transformer coil winding machines, air compressors, a stretch machine for cable trays and transformer testing equipment.

Wescosa first began operations in 1976 as an assembler of medium-scale panel boards, switchboards and cable trays. "Today it has grown to achieve the distinction of being a large-scale power distribution equipment manufacturer with a diversified range and an elite status", said the spokesman.

"While overall electric power requirements in the kingdom have been increasing annually at approximately 15 per cent during the past four years, Wescosa's growth climbed 310 per cent during the last six years," he said.

"The introduction of large power transformers, low voltage switchracks, automatic transfer switches, busduct, cable buses, roll formed cable tray supports and fuse cut-out units as well as site assistance with testing and commissioning has boosted the level of sales during the last four years and helped a great deal in supporting the transformer sales division in turnover growth," he added.

"Wescosa with its own indigenous high quality design facility is now capable of producing power transformers up to 10 MVA and up to 69 kV class," the spokesman said. Design work is verified by tests at international labs such as NV Kema - Netherlands, which also does regular quality inspections to verify the Wescosa ISO 9001 certification.

The production infrastructure includes state-of-the-art machinery for fabrication, active parts assembly, painting and quality testing.

"Developmental activities include an asset development budget to create a unique plant devoted to producing large transformers of more than 5MVA and fully equipped with the latest technology machinery and testing equipment. This plan is due to be completed and be operational by end of 2003," the spokesman said.

To maintain quality standards, Wescosa undertakes a comprehensive design review of IEC/Ansi transformers in accordance with ISO 9000 standards and procedures. Consequently, the spokesman says, the company is able to plan its materials availability and manufacturing schedule and thereby deliver at the stipulated time. Most importantly, the products finally handed over to the customer conform to quality in line with recognised IEC/Ansi standards.

Elaborating on quality aspects, the spokesman said the company had put in place a full-fledged quality management programme that followed ISO standards. This enabled it to implement quality control strictly

Wescosa was the only Saudi Arabian electrical manufacturer to take part in the recently concluded IFEE power distribution and transmission exhibition in Atlanta, US.

The spokesman described the participation as a major event for the company. It shared the spotlight with world leaders in power distribution while also being able to display its manufacturing prowess as regards IEC/Ansi transformers.

Some of Saudi Arabia's most prestigious and strategic projects have benefited from Wescosa products. The companies for whom Wescosa supplied include such illustrious names as Saudi Aramco, the Royal Commission, Petrokemya, Sabic and Saudi Electric Company.

Saudi Aramco projects that had Wescosa inputs were the Shaybah production facilities, the Hawiyah, Safaniya, Khuff and Haradh gas plants, the Rastamira refinery upgrade, Riyadh refinery, Sulayyil bulk plant and Abqaiq plant.

Wescosa supplied the Royal Commission for its seawater-cooling project.

The scope of supply for those projects included almost all Wescosa products covering power transformers, LV and MV switchgear, MCCs, busducts and cable trays.

The company undertook for them both installation and commissioning of its products. Wescosa, said the spokesman, was proud it had not only achieved growth through expansions from time to time, but had also contributed much towards Saudi Arabia's economic growth.

Saudis make up 30 per cent of the staff, a figure that has put it in the forefront of companies in terms of encouragement to Saudi employment.