Pressure and temperature instruments maker AARICO is exploring new markets to boost volumes and sales.
AARICO stands for Ashcroft Al Rushaid Instrument Company, a joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s Al Rushaid Petroleum Investment Company and Ashcroft Nagano Keiki Inc.
Ashcroft pressure and temperature instruments have been manufactured in Saudi Arabia since 1983 and were supplied through Dresser Al Rushaid Valve and Instruments Company (Darvico). But in 2006, the realignment of Ashcroft business worldwide led Ashcroft to be part of Nagano Keiki of Japan, renowned as the world’s largest manufacturer of pressure, temperature gauges, sensors and transmitters.
AARICO is the only company representing both Ashcroft and Nagano Keiki products in the entire Middle East.
The AARICO plant, located in Jubail, produces Ashcroft products numbering 40,000 to 50,000 gauges, 5,000 thermowells and thermometers and 2,000 pressure switches annually.
The company only recently began importing Nagano Keiki products for distribution.
Ashcroft products are manufactured as per US standards while Nagano manufactures to Japanese standards. Both enjoy the number one position in their respective applications in global markets.
“The integration of both US and Japanese technology helped AARICO stabilise a hot seat in the Middle East market,” said the firm’s general manager DR Pai.
“Strict conformance to Ashcroft manufacturing and quality assurance procedures ensures all products made by us have the same field performance as those made in Ashcroft plants in the US and worldwide,” insisted Pai.
“This facility has trained and certified manpower to perform assembly, testing and calibration conforming to national and international standards.”
Ashcroft and Nagano Keiki products are widely used in various applications such as oil refineries, petrochemical industries, water treatment facilities, hydraulic systems, power generation, fertiliser plants, pumps and pipeline projects.
Ashcroft support
“Continuous support from Ashcroft USA and Ashcroft Europe helps the AARICO sales team to provide superior technical support and engineering solutions to their clients for major projects in the oil and gas sectors,” commented Pai.
“Apart from manufacturing we do calibration services for all types and brands of pressure and temperature instruments as per ANSI standards.”
AARICO has introduced a stocking programme for fast moving ranges with integrated software, AIMS.
The company’s quality system has been audited and approved by Lloyds register quality assurance and certified to ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 29001:2007. Ashcroft products are also certified by Saso and UL.
The company has successfully executed mega projects, a few of which are the Khursaniyah gas plant, Hawiyah gas plant, Juaymaih and Khurais. Its clients are Saudi Aramco, Sabic, Sceco, SWCC, Samref and Lubref.
AARICO has also done business with all the leading EPC contractors including Bechtel, Technip, Snamprogetti, Technicas, Fluor, Foster Wheeler, and SNC Lavalin.
