Bilfal Heavy Industries Limited, formerly known as Belleli Saudi Heavy Industries (BSHI) and nearing its quarter century mark, has evolved into one of the largest specialised heavy steel manufacturing companies in the Gulf.

Bilfal has two large factories located in Jubail and Yanbu. The Jubail fabrication facilities and assembly yard extend over an area of 350,000 sq m with a covered area of 50,000 sq m. The fabrication facility in Yanbu consists of an area of 140,000 sq m with a covered area of 13,000 sq m.
Deputy chief executive officer Midhat Kidwai says the company has earned an international reputation for reliability, which has been backed up by repeated orders from its clients. It has integrated the experience of its construction division and its manufacturing capabilities.
“We are qualified to handle fabrication and construction of offshore platform projects, providing clients with project management, engineering, procurement, manufacturing and the supply of all  necessary equipment, construction work and commissioning,” he continues.
Bilfal operates according to Quality System Standard ISO 9001:2000, and is specialised in detailed design, manufacture, fabrication and supply of large heat exchangers, pressure vessels, reactors, spheres, storage tanks, piping, onshore and offshore modules and desalination units.
Kidwai says the company also undertakes EPC contracts of petrochemical furnace modules, storage tanks, spheres, onshore and offshore modules and structures, besides large-scale plant shutdown and revamping jobs.
“We are also licensed to use ASME and National Board Stamps U, U2, S, PP and R,” he adds.
Kidwai says Bilfal has successfully executed many large projects across the Gulf.
“We were also the first company in Saudi Arabia to manufacture and export large-sized modules to other countries,” he adds.
Kidwai says notable projects include Qatar Petroleum Company’s14 riser top platforms and the fabrication and supply of the largest column ever made in Saudi Arabia, the 1,200-tonne 110 m C2 splitter for Petrokemya Olefins 3 Project.
“We also supplied the first single units evaporator modules in the Gulf,” he adds. “Each of the three units weighed 1,850 tonnes and these were for the Barka-Oman Desalination and Power Plant.”
Kidwai says Bilfal moved a complete land-drilling rig to its new location on the same cluster using its own 650-tonne trailers, the largest operation of its kind in the world.
He attributes the company’s success to several factors.
“Our competitiveness derives from our technological capabilities, heavy wall thickness rolling capacity (up to 150 mm), capability to handle complex materials, large manufacturing facilities and a highly skilled workforce,” he explains.
Bilfal was incorporated in 1983 and began manufacturing two years later.
In 1987, it opened its Jubail assembly yard operations and in 1992 established its Yanbu factory. Four years later, it opened its Dubai branch.
Bilfal went under new ownership and management in 2001 and changed its name last year.