MHD Gases Division, a pioneer in the manufacture of industrial and fuel gases in Oman, is stepping up its drive to introduce new products and applications.
The division is said to be Oman's largest manufacturer and exporter of carbon dioxide, liquid oxygen/nitrogen and the largest distributor of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in both cylinders and bulk form.
"We plan to introduce new products next year to cater to the demand for special gases," says general manager Arup K Paul.
The gas plant, the first industrial venture within the MHD Group, was launched in 1971 and moved to the new premises near the Rusayl Industrial Estate in 1978. The company was started with conventional gases. It launched the production of carbon dioxide in 1985 and today has a capacity to produce 24 tonnes per day, one of the largest in the region.
Technology upgrade is the only way to be in the race and MHD invests a lot of resources towards this, continues Paul.
The company's major market is Oman, though some products are also sold in the UAE. MHD supplies its products to various industries. Its major clients include Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health, Civil Aviation, Oman LNG contractors, hospitals, hotels and beverage industries.
MHD is also a pioneer in supplying LPG in large tanks. "It is a lot safer. We were the first one to introduce this in Oman and hold an 85 per cent market share. The customers include hotels, hospitals, catering services, etc," says Paul.
"We supply tanks and offer clients safe and user-friendly equipment on long term basis. We believe in fair partnership with clients," he says.
MHD, equipped with the latest technology, won ISO9002 accreditation in 1996. As part of its commitment to safety, gas cylinders are subjected to stringent quality check and certification prior to delivery to customers.
The division also won His Majesty's Trophy for one of the five best industries in the Sultanate for the year 1997.
MHD manufactures/supplies the following products:
MHD also specialises in installing and commissioning centralized medical gas systems in hospitals for transport of life support gases direct to the patient's bed - no trolleys or cylinders are required in critical care patient rooms, theatres and wards. It also undertakes supply and commissioning of nurse call systems for patient-to-nurse communication and bed head services trunking that houses the medical gas services, electrical sockets, UPS sockets, nurse call device, reading lights, indirect room lights, exam lights, intercoms and patient monitors.
"We have a full-fledged competent technical team and support services to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction," says Paul.
division has been able to make major strides in Omanisation with 40 per cent of the staff in its production wing being Omanis and 35 per cent in the trading wing.
"We plan to take more graduates from Sultan Qaboos University into various fields," he says.
On the market situation, Paul says competition is increasing in the Sultanate and added to this, major industries are having their own captive plants. However, he is hopeful of a good year 2000 and beyond.
