For Nass Group, one of the region's largest integrated industrial conglomerates, 2009 was a fruitful year despite the slowdown inmarkets.

Samir Nass, deputy chairman and managing director of Nass Corporation, is cautiously optimistic about 2010.

'I consider that 2009 will record the strongest financial year in our history. But this is because many ongoing projects are reaching completion,' he said in mid-December.

'Certainly, we have witnessed a slowing down over the pasttwo years in contracting and projects shelved some of which will be completedat a later stage,' said Nass.

'I can see a pick up in the construction sector and thegeneral economy by the second half of 2010. The difficulty is in bridging thegap and ensuring that the right people are available in our specialist divisions in this bridging period right across the organisation. Our diversified activities in manufacturing and industrial services are of vitalimportance.' 

Nass is currently investing in Dammam's second industrialcity in partnership with Shaheen Group for a $10 million grinding disc plant which will be commissioned by March 2010. As Nass explains, this new plant willprovide significant benefits to the conglomerate.

Nass Contracting was recently awarded an $80 million designand build contract for the construction of a 1,380 m quay wall for Arab ShipRepair Yard (Asry).

With six divisions and four subsidiaries covering 10 core businesses from contracting to barge fabrication and manufacturing, NassCorporation is an industrial and contracting powerhouse. More than 40 separate companies, joint ventures and direct partnerships in construction, engineering,industry, manufacturing, trading and related commercial activities comprise thecorporation which was founded by Abdulla Ahmed Nass in 1962.

Nass Corporation has always focused on 'doing the difficult’with an extensive track record of executing complex projects across a widerange of industries linking up when necessary with international EPC contractors and specialist partners. In fact, Sameer Nass has his own viewsabout the approach that Middle East contractors should take to EPC as he firmlybelieves that engineering expertise implicit in this work and the associatedskills set are vital for the long-term development of the region.

Says Nass: 'Bahrain needs to develop and strengthen the industrial sector and there are many initiatives shaping the kingdom. Nass isalso looking to further develop our industrial and engineering strengths to becompetitive and continues to look regionally whilst at the same time seeking togenerate employment for Bahrainis. As our organisation matures, I see that weshould take more advantage by developing our engineering expertise and expertservices and become even more specialised. In fact, engineering must been couraged further as part of the equation and in our company we are always seekingto build on our delivery of international standard engineering and industrial services benchmarked by the best within our diversified portfolio. At the sametime, local contracting prequalification might require adjustment as companies such as Nass become more specialised in delivering EPC contracts across a range of sectors.'

A Case product, one of several brands that Nass Commercial markets

Such projects include the completed $24 million expansion tothe ethylene plant at Sharq in Jubail, specialist fabrications for Yansab inYanbu and petrochemical platforms in Abu Dhabi. In recent years, the Shaw-Nass division was involved in supplying specialist fabrications and engineering systems for the Dolphin project. In Qatar, Nass has been involved in specialistfabrications for RasGas and fabrications for the Ibedrola-Mesaeed power plant.

Nass has made substantial contributions to Bahrain' scommercial and industrial landscape by undertaking many of the key infrastructure and landmark construction projects. The range and scale of itsmulti-faceted project work includes the new Khalifa Bin Salman Port at Hidd,Durrat Al Bahrain, Riffa Views, Bahrain Bay, the landmark World Trade Centre in Manama, many complex roads and underpass and interchange projects.

With its high reputation for construction and engineering excellence, its impressive track record continues with the corporation busy inits industrial and contracting projects and operations continuing to grow in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Qatar as well as Singapore.

The group highlighted some of its key segments:
Nass Marine Services: Nass Marine looks at new ways to apply technology and state-of-the-art marine systems to the design and construction of small and medium barges, landing craft, dredgers, tugs and other marine transportation.

In accordance with classification society rules and regulations, all Nass Marine projects meet client requirements and class approvals using skilled design, naval architecture and marine engineering staff.

Equipment specifications, structural analysis, drawings, calculations, reports and regulatory compliance are some of the areas in which Nass helps expedite new designs for vessels and modification projects forcustomers.

Major clients of Nass Marine Services include Al Jazeera Shipping, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Quarries and KGL Kuwait. 

Nass Mechanical Contracting Co WLL/Nass Industrial Services: Certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 and holding ASME US' andNBBI's R & NB stamps, this segment is made up of one of the mostdiversified mechanical and structural contractors in the Middle East with operations in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE and exports toevery continent.

The operations include fabrication and erection ofmechanical process equipment, industrial structures, storage tanks, pressure vessels,heat exchangers, piping, and marine dredges. The company is also involved inthe construction, repair and maintenance of storage tanks, anti-corrosiontreatment and painting, plant shutdown maintenance and offshore services.

Model of a crane barge that Nass Marine fabricates

The company has a state-of-the-art manufacturing unit in Bahrain on a total area of 54,000 sq m and a marine jetty of 104 m length and 6m depth. There are also three bays with a covered fabrication area of 6,930 sqm and a covered steel grit blasting and painting facility.

Activities include engineering, project and site management,procurement, fabrication (CS, SS & Al), blasting and painting, QA/QC, HSE,erection and installation, materials management, crane and equipment rentalsand logistics. 

Nass Scafform Contracting: Nass Scafform was established in Bahrain in May 1990, trading as the scaffolding division of Abdulla Ahmed NassGroup of Companies.

In a relatively short period of time, the company has risento become one of the leading providers of scaffolding services throughout theGulf.

The expansion programme has seen Nass Scafform not only establishing operations in Qatar as the scaffolding division of Qatar-AlAttiyeh International Group but also in Saudi Arabia as the scaffolding division of Abdulla Ahmed Nass and Partners, in Kuwait as the scaffolding division of Al Ghanem & Nass Co WLL, and in Abu Dhabi where the company istrading as Nass Scaffolding Services. 

Nass Commercial: Nass Commercial, a trading and service support arm of Nass Corporation, has made strong advances over the past two decades. The company represents over 40 international manufacturers andprovides comprehensive sales, distribution, spare parts and after-salesservices. It is associated with various reputed manufacturers ofequipment/products from different parts of the world.  These are well regarded by customers and have a large marketshare in Bahrain.

Some of the manufacturers and brands that Nass Commercial represents are Case, Schwing, Stetter, Kaeser, Esab, Hangcha, Messey Ferguson,Elf Lubricants, the Swords, Bonar & John's Manville Geo textiles,Chesterton, Green Power, American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Watts, Norinco,Corobrick and MTS.

'To achieve and sustain market acceptance, the company employs dedicated personnel according to the segment that they handle withspecialisation. The company has also invested in total customer satisfaction byway of making available services and products at the client’s door step,' a Nass spokesman said.