Fuel for Life | Issue 1

Summer 2014

Volume 01 / Issue 01

FUEL FOR LIFE A Frames Magazine

A True Passion for Nature Photography

p. 10

American fast food chains broaden their horizons

p. 16

Leaders are Readers – Four ways to stay ahead of the competition

p. 20

Living with a physical disability but not without snowboarding

p. 46

From the Dutch Clay to the Desert Sand

p. 88

Colophon

EDITOR IN CHIEF Matthijs de Wilde EDITORS Matthijs de Wilde Kristine de Wilde DESIGN Bohemia Amsterdam CREATIVE DIRECTOR Marco de Boer SENIOR DESIGNER Ramiro Amorena DESIGNERS Shira Menahem Carla Maurer PROJECT MANAGER Carmel Azami PUBLISHER Frames Frames Raoul Wallenbergplein 29 2404 ND Alphen aan den Rijn The Netherlands frames-group.com info@frames-group.com

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

Gail Devers, threetime Olympic champion in track and field for the US Olympic Team.

Committed

Fuel for Life -

Issue 1 / Volume 1

Driven

Sharp

Reliable

Together

FUEL FOR LIFE

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Doordringen in de complexe wereld van olie en gas is voor een kleiner bedrijf geen eenvoudige opgave. Gezien de enorme bedragen die met opsporing en winning zijn gemoeid, moet een nieuwkomer het vertrouwen winnen van de grote marktpartijen. Breaking into the complex world of oil and gas is not an easy task for a smaller company. Given the huge amounts of money involved in exploration and extraction, any newcomer has to win the trust of the major market players.

Frank van Bossum & Matthijs de Wilde, Financieel Dagblad, 1995

Welcome

Dear Reader, In 1984, a handful of determined people started our company. Each of those people had a drive and passion – a personal fuel for life. Thirty years later, we number more than 400, and together we have accomplished a lot. We are reliable, sharp and driven and together we have made Frames into a major player in the global oil and gas industry.

To celebrate our thirty year anniversary, we are introducing a new magazine – Fuel for Life. It is filled with stories about people a lot like you, people who are talented and professional, committed and successful in their own specialized fields. By celebrating these people – artists, musicians, writers, photographers and engineers – we recognize the passion that fuels their lives.

The articles in this magazine – whether they show the eye of the photographer, the ear of the musician or the brain of the technical engineer – prove that our values can, indeed, be fuel for life.

Happy reading, Matthijs de Wilde

“Fuel for Life is filled with stories about people who are talented and professional, committed and successful in their own specialized fields.”

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Contents

41

84

MANIFESTO

1984 WHAT HAPPENED?

16 AMERICAN FAST FOOD CHAINS BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS

46 LIVING WITH A PHYSICAL DISABILITY BUT NOT WITHOUT SNOWBOARDING

39

79

88

WATER IS IN THEIR GENES

ABU DHABI: A STORY OF EVOLUTION

FROM THE DUTCH CLAY TO THE DESERT SAND

Committed

Returning themes

Passions/ A True Passion for Nature Photography

10

Driven

Thoughts/ Leaders are Readers – Four ways to stay ahead of the competition

20

Words/ Frank’s Vision

22

Pics/ Young International Talent

27

Passions/ Running a Micro Roastery at Home

34

Rides/ Fiets

42

Looks/ Dutch Designer

48

Spots/ Gas Storage

52

Bites/ Eat like a Malaysian!

57

Tones/ Eclectic Jazzman Michiel Borstlap

62

Spots/ The Seven Seas

66

Numbers/ Facts & Future

72

Things/ Gadgets

74

Sharp

Reliable

Colophon/

4

Intro/ Matthijs de Wilde

7

Thanks/

94

Together

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A True Passion for Nature Photography Writer: Caroline Piek Photographer: Peter Maris

PASSIONS AS FUEL FOR LIFE

13

PASSIONS AS FUEL FOR LIFE

15

s a mechanical engineer for Frames Gas Processing Peter has kept himself busy with the skid and plant layouts of the business unit.

But when you ask him about his true passion, his answer might surprise you. “Nature photography is what really fuels me and consumes all of my spare time.” Where most people connect nature photography with Africa, Peter prefers staying closer to home. “I’ve been to Kenya and Svalbard, but the Dutch dunes are my roots and favorite place. During my hikes I meet deer, foxes and birds and find a unique silence within the crowded Netherlands.”

A

How did you become such an avid nature photographer? “Ironically health issues with my back are the reason why I now carry 15 kg around. My doctor advised me to walk and I found hiking in the dunes a bit more exciting than around the block. I took my camera with me and set off hoping to maybe spot a fox. That first walk I spotted five fallow deer and a red fox and I was hooked.”

When you sketch the image of a heavily camouflaged photographer who sits for hours waiting for a single bird, Peter laughs. “They exist, but I prefer a more open approach. My favorite season is winter but I do not dress up in white like a Navy SEAL. I get up well before sunrise, dress up warm and find my spot or animal just as the sun rises. And then the waiting begins. Sitting still on your knees for two hours in a foot of snow is no fun. But if you want the animal to accept you, you cannot jump around to keep warm.

I keep still and wait, which can take hours before a roe deer comes close enough for a good shot. When you finally get up you feel like an old man, your knees frozen and painful.”

How do you find these places or the animals? “You need to become familiar with the animal. What it eats, how it lives, Google does a good job too nowadays, but the rest is just spending time in the area. Deer migrate through the dunes as the seasons change and you get to know routes and places by spending a lot of time in the field.”

“My favorite season is the winter but I never dress up in white like a Navy SEAL.”

It sounds like you spent more time observing than photographing. “Indeed 90 percent of the time is waiting or observing, but the other 10 percent makes it worthwhile. If you take a typical rutting season in autumn, I will go twenty times which equals about 3000 photos. I get soaked at least five times, have two freezing mornings without gloves and one morning with mist. In the end I am happy if I nail four shots. People only know Van Gogh for three famous paintings either, so you do not need more anyway.”

When asked if it his ambition to become the Van Gogh of nature photography he shrugs. “I would love to win the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest and have National Geographic call me, but for now I am content that several magazines ran my photos and articles. On a recent lecture by a French photographer I saw a movie of him in the field that moved me. The man spent a month roaming the cold white wilderness in search of white wolves and when they finally found each other he cried while taking photos. That emotion is what it should be about, not fame or glory, but the exhilaration of taking that one shot that could be the best of the year”. ¡

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American fast food chains broaden their horizons Writer: Daniel Carter Illustrations: Silvia Celiberti

merica is the land of fast food. More than half of all Americans eat at a McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s or Taco Bell at least once a week and no fewer than one in five does so daily. A bucket of fried chicken, Whopper menu or pizza slice is part of traditional American cuisine, from Washington to Florida and from California to New York.

A hectic everyday life, high degree of poverty, ignorance of a healthy diet and high prices for fresh food have ingrained the ‘quick bite’ in American culture.

Two-thirds of the population is now overweight and weight-related health issues and illnesses are spreading like wildfire. The call for a cultural shift is getting louder and louder, and has not gone unnoticed by the fast food chains. The fast food restaurants realize all too well that they need to respond to that development in order to retain their strong position in the food market, not only from a marketing perspective, but also in terms of social responsibility.

H E A LT H Y

Sandwich fast-food restaurant Subway has been campaigning with the ‘eat fresh’ slogan since day one.

The popular hamburger restaurants have also had fresh fruit on the menu for many years. But the range of health products is now quickly expanding across the board. Any self-respecting fast food joint now offers at least one healthy alternative to the traditional double cheeseburger and soft drink menu.

In the U.S. in particular, where nearly every restaurant lists the amount of total fat for every meal, every calorie and every carbohydrate counts. Burger King introduced low-calorie fries last year. The Satisfries contain 40 percent less fat and 30 percent fewer calories than regular fries. Fruit smoothies, Caesar salads and crispy low-fat chicken strips are also on the ‘healthy choice’ menu.

TOGETHERNESS

The fast food chains are also expanding their product ranges with healthier options in order to attract families to their restaurants. McDonald’s recently announced it would be expanding its range in order to offer something for all the different preferences and tastes in a family, saying, “There’s something on the menu for every member of the family, whether you feel like having a Big Mac or oatmeal.”

Family therapist Susan Dafoe-Abbey and dietician Heidi Smith have joined forces to emphasize the importance of eating together with the entire family. Smith explains, “You’ve got two working parents and kids who play sports, have music lessons and have to do homework, so families are spending less and less time together. Enjoying a meal as a family can be a powerful weapon in the battle against losing each other. A little bit of extra family time can prevent a whole lot of damage.” Dafoe-Abbey adds, “Eating together offers the opportunity to talk

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about how everyone is really doing and what they’re up to. It’s not only nutritious from a food point of view, but also from a psychological and social perspective.”

B R E A K FA S T

The fast food restaurants are hurling themselves en masse into the market for the first meal of the day: breakfast. In early March, Dunkin’ Donuts launched an outright breakfast war with the introduction of its Egg Benedict Sandwich. Not long afterwards, Taco Bell introduced a completely new breakfast range, with playful commercials featuring people named Ronald McDonald praising their food. Naturally, the chain behind the cheerful clown could not get left behind and began offering customers free coffee when they ate breakfast at McDonald’s.

“Breakfast menus are the only growth market for fast food chains,” says Julia Gallo-Torres, USA Food Service Manager at the Mintel research firm. “The sale of breakfast products at fast food restaurants grew in 2013 by more than 5 percent.”

McDonald’s dominates the fast food breakfast market, with the popular Egg McMuffin as its flagship product. With its breakfast products, this multinational was good for nearly a third of total sales of breakfast products in the entire fast food industry in the U.S. in 2012, claims research firm Technomic.

No one sells as much breakfast food as the ‘Golden Arches’. And, according to the experts at Technomic, this is not likely to change. Other fast food chains are attempting to get their piece of the pie, but often struggle with a marketing problem. “Starbucks, for example, now sells bagels, sandwiches and muffins, but the chain is first and foremost known as a coffee joint. Wendy’s occasionally attempts to increase its presence in the breakfast segment, but, at the end of the day, people go there for their burgers, fries and chicken nuggets. And Taco Bell is now hawking a breakfast menu, with a syrup-covered, meat-filled taco waffle as the top item. But how many people associate a restaurant with the name Taco Bell with breakfast?”

Julia Gallo-Torres: “The sale of breakfast products at fast food restaurants grew in 2013 by more than 5 percent.”

A good cup of coffee is an integral part of any good breakfast, so the chains are all upgrading their coffee menus. So breakfast eaters on the run can now get quality coffee at, for example, McDonald’s and Burger King. And that pays off. Technomic has calculated that the sale of coffee at fast food restaurants in 2013 increased by 9 percent.

“More than half of all Americans eat at a McDonald’s once a week and no fewer than one in five does so daily.”

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

An eternal blot on the image of fast food chains is the sustainability of its meals. Prices have to be low, but the environment and animals suffer due to dirt cheap products. As with nearly every development in the industry, McDonald’s takes the lead in sustainable production methods. Earlier this year, the company announced that it would be focusing on the sustainable production of meat and promised to start selling sustainably produced beef in 2016. In the meantime, the chain is developing sustainable solutions together with its suppliers. McDonald’s claims that this was not possible in the past because, with the sale of more than a billion pounds of beef each year in the U.S., it is no small task to turn the entire production chain upside down.

The fast food giant prides itself on the fact that, since 2011, it has been working together with the World Wildlife Foundation and meat producers, among others, on developing an international standard for sustainable beef production. Why is the company so involved in the origin of its goods? “Because the hamburgers are the most iconic items on our menu and will continue to be so. We want to do our part to contribute to a better environment, guarantee the health and welfare of animals in the meat industry and together offer affordable quality with a good profit margin for farmers and meat processors,” states the multinational on its website.

Research firm Technomic published a report in 2011 that stated that 21 percent of American adults are willing to pay a little more for 100 percent natural meat that is guaranteed to be free of hormones and antibiotics. This clearly attracted the attention of the fast food industry.

FIASCOS

As long as fast food restaurants have been around in the U.S., they have continuously innovated. But attempts to modernize are not always successful.

Wendy’s, for instance, introduced a snack for vegetarians back in 1985. But the simple cottage cheese and pineapple stuffed tomato did not go down well and quickly disappeared from the menu. In the 80s, Burger King introduced mini versions of its hamburgers.

They’ve appeared on the menu on and off over the years under different names like Sliders, BK Burger Shots and BK Minis, but have not turned out to be particularly successful. McDonald’s came up with the McLean Deluxe in the 90s, a normal-sized hamburger but with only 9 percent fat content. The ‘skinny’ burger was granted only a short life.

Nutritionist and psychologist Lenny Lesser doubts whether the urge for change at fast food restaurants will prove fruitful. “People ultimately go to a fast food restaurant because they know exactly what they’re getting: a greasy hamburger, greasy fries, and a huge soft drink.” ¡

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Leaders are Readers – Four ways to stay ahead of the competition Writer: Verne Harnish Photographer: Bohemia Amsterdam

ighty-five percent of your employees may be withholding vital information, according to academic research. When employees don’t speak up, it stifles innovation and leaves your company at risk of getting blindsided by a competitor.

E

The good news? There are many ways to open the lines of communication. Under Jack Welch’s leadership, GE developed the Work-Out process to build cooperation between different groups within the company. On a smaller scale, Carey Smith, CEO of mid-sized U.S. manufacturer Big Ass Fans in Lexington, Kentucky, arranges dinners at nice restaurants for small groups of employees every week.

Leaders can do more to build the culture of trust where employees are inclined to speak up, says entrepreneur Margaret Heffernan, author of the recently released book A Bigger Prize and Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril. She has also served as CEO at tech firms InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation and iCAST Corpo-

ration. She recommends the following strategies to run your company more efficiently and harness your team’s best ideas. Use these four approaches.

Take the pain out of speaking up A critical task for leaders is to create a workplace where employees feel free to share their ideas “without fear of scorn, shame or opprobrium when ideas aren’t perfectly formed,” says Heffernan. Leaders must understand how to build social capital, the “trust, reciprocity and resilience of any group,” says Heffernan.

“Making sure employees know each other is the first step – and often a big challenge for leaders in a corporate environment,” says Heffernan.

“In most companies, people want to do a good job, put their head down, get to work, then go home,” Heffernan says. “It’s surprisingly rare for people to devote a lot of time getting to know one another, except as far as they need to get their work done. It looks like people are being terribly efficient, but without trust they are not. If you don’t seriously consider how you build trust between people you will always suffer as far as innovation and efficiency are concerned,” she says.

Schedule time to get to know each other Heffernan recommends building some time into the work week when employees can get to know each other, so they know the expertise of their colleagues and will turn to them for help; the most efficient problem-solving approach. As chief executive of one software company, she set aside weekly sessions where three designated employees would simply talk about something that interested them, whether that was their favorite piece of music or their biggest mistake.

“The thing that’s amazing to me to this day was how transformative that was,” says Heffernan. “Suddenly people realized the quality and the depth of their colleagues.”

them more generous with their ability to help each other.”

Applaud daring employees Leaders must also create an environment where employees can see that company leaders won’t ‘shoot the messenger’ for raising controversial ideas and will actually be praised for having the guts to do so.

In many companies there is a stalemate, where the employees think, “I won’t speak up. I don’t think the company will appreciate it,” Heffernan says. “The company doesn’t see that no one is speaking up. What you get is silence. You have leaders saying, `Why aren’t my people creative?’ and you have workers saying, `I would be creative but no one wants me to.’”

There’s a cost to this. When talented employees are silent, whether it is out of fear of retribution or criticism – or futility – they tend to leave.

“When people feel they can’t make an impact, then they do start to look around,” says Heffernan. “They want to find a place where they think they matter.”

Avert corporate risk Social science research shows that people are predisposed to being obedient and tend to conform to behavior they see around them, notes Heffernan. “The more people who see something wrong, the less likely it becomes that anyone will say anything,” she says.

To solve this, Heffernan recommends a low-tech system used by The Body Shop. New hires get a red envelope where they can, anonymously or not, submit ideas to the CEO through its internal mail system.

“Just having the process in place sends a signal: We want to know – and we depend on you to tell us,” says Heffernan. ¡

To carve out time to do this, Heffernan suggests creating the ‘Quiet Time’ windows Harvard researcher Leslie Perlow found that greatly enhance productivity. These are periods when meetings are verboten and everyone can put their heads down and work.

A company might, for instance, set aside Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays from 9 to 12.

Verne Harnish is founder of the worldrenowned Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and for 15 years chaired EO’s premiere CEO program, the ‘Birthing of Giants’ and WEO’s ‘Advanced Business’ executive program, both held at MIT. He is founder and CEO of Gazelles, a global executive education and coaching company.

The ‘Growth Guy’ syndicated columnist, he’s also the Venture columnist for Fortune magazine.

“It’s obvious that’s going to make people more productive,” Heffernan says. “What’s less obvious is that outside of the protected time it’s going to make

Residing in Barcelona, Spain, he’s married with four children and enjoys piano, tennis and magic as a card-carrying member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

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Frank’s Vision Writer: Annemieke Diekman Photographer: Marc Dorleijn

rank van Bossum (71), Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Frames, is an extremely experienced entrepreneur who still enjoys operating at the cutting edge of the sector. A sympathetic, erudite man, with a clear vision about Frames and the oil and gas market. As a Supervisory Board member, he’s no longer involved with the daily operations of the business, he still gives it a great deal of time and energy, though.

He’s a strong believer in delivering added value. “That’s where you really can earn money.”

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You started Frames together with Matthijs de Wilde in 1984, at a time when you had already been active in the oil and gas sector for years.

What was the reason to start up your own company?

Having my own business has always been my ambition. It’s difficult for me to deal with authority, or tolerate having people working above me.

That became clear years ago, when during my term of military service I wanted to take officer training. This attempt met with early failure because of the army’s strict hierarchy. Nonetheless, I first worked at various companies before taking the step towards setting up my own company.

After graduating from the college of Applied Sciences and Technology in Amsterdam (where my combination study program included engineering & technology, materials science, and economics & commercial studies), and after completing my required period of military service, I travelled around in the Netherlands and abroad. A fantastic time. I received offers for jobs from both Philips and Hoogovens to work there and simultaneously attended the Technical University, but I didn’t feel like doing any more studies. I hardly had a penny to my name, and really wanted to start making money. In the military I was earning 10 guilders a day: that was real poverty.

The NDSM Shipyard in Amsterdam-North made you an offer. How did you experience that first introduction to the gas industry?

NDSM had just started building valves for the gas industry, under license from an American company. In the early sixties, gas production was getting underway in the Netherlands, and pipelines had to be laid for distribution throughout the whole country. Representatives from Dutch companies were going to America, at that time the cradle of the emerging modernized oil and gas industry, to see how things were being done, and they returned with licenses.

I began in the costing department. NDSM had just won the tender for a big order from Shell for a couple of supertankers. It was going to be their first time building ships with such huge volumes. It turned out that

“I’ve become milder.”

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Frank with scale model of a cyclone

the calculations for the construction costs were completely wrong. The costs had been calculated using a linear increase scale, but for such large ships, that didn’t apply at all. After a certain point, the costs increased at a much quicker rate, due to specialized techniques. I learned a lot from this. After four months, they asked me to come and work as technical commercial staff member in the valves division. My first real step forward in the world of the gas industry.

Quite soon after that, I switched over to an American firm that was having its valves built at NDSM. My salary would be doubled, so the choice was easily made. In 1970 the company won the tender for a large order from Russia, financed by the Italian government. That’s the way things went, at the time. Russia had no cash at all - only gas and oil, and for the rest, nothing. In practice, this meant that the valves would have to be built in Italy, because that was a requirement of the Italian government.

I could have gone to Milan then, but I didn’t want to.

Then came the prelude to the start of Frames. How did that happen?

Because I didn’t want to go to Milan, they offered to let me set up an oil and gas division by myself at an American sister company that was active in the petrochemical industry. I would be the third man in the company’s executive team. The shareholders, an American and an Estonian refugee living in France, gave me a free rein. In 1975 I hired Matthijs (Matthijs de Wilde, Chairman of the Board at Frames until recently). In the following years, the company expanded rapidly, until the American decided to sell the company in 1982. I immediately offered to take over the business, but the American doubted my financial capacity. Nevertheless, I was given the chance to try and get the necessary financing. After a disappointing round of negotiations with the banks (even then), I eventually was successful with a venture capital company. We had the company audited, and arrived at a certain value. However, the American found the price far too low, we couldn’t come to an agreement, and a clash occurred. That’s when I decided to leave the company and together with Matthijs start our own company. It was the beginning of the eighties, the unemployment rate had climbed to 12 percent, and this adventure seemed foolhardy. Almost everyone advised against it. Fortunately, we held on to our determination to see it through.

We then went back to the capital venture company, which, as an exception, was willing to finance our beginning company. We started with nothing, in a rented building with second-hand furniture.

Frames immediately began to make progress, and soon was expanding beyond the borders of the Netherlands. How have you been able to make the company a success?

First I would like to make it clear that I am really proud of what we have achieved with Frames throughout the years, especially through the efforts of all our people, our ‘working capital’. Since day one, we have always been profitable. The early days were exciting. The first three years we only worked in the Netherlands, and then the adventure abroad began, beginning with Germany. In the meantime we also had orders coming in from Dutch companies that were active in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the other countries in the Middle East. Soon, we established local branches overseas. The first was in Houston, Texas, the cradle of the international oil and gas market. From there, we looked at the Middle East, Central and South America, and Africa. Next were offices in Abu Dhabi, Brazil, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

How will the market develop in the future?

I predict that in the coming years Europe will see a transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy. The uncertainty regarding Russian gas provision will increase, due to President Putin’s recent urge for expansion.

Europe wants to become less dependent on Russia. For that reason, European governments are expected to keep the gas price high, so that they can build windmill parks with the profits. And this is happening precisely at the time that gas is actually becoming less expensive, under the pressure of the American supply.

By building windmill parks, which I consider to be a waste of money, governments are trying to meet the demands of the left wing of our society. I personally am not against alternative forms of energy – I’ve had solar panels on my roof for more than ten years – but there are much better alternatives than wind power. I would like to be in on discussions focusing on these alternatives.

For Frames, these developments mean that in the future we will to an even greater extent have to acquire our business from countries outside of Europe. In addition, we have to consider whether we can deploy our knowledge and systems to develop alternative forms of energy.

You were already convinced, early on, of the importance of providing added value. Has this vision led to the rapid expansion of Frames, up to this moment?

My belief in the provision of added value has certainly contributed to this result. That’s where you really can earn money. Frames is a specialized and exceptional company, an important player in the worldwide oil and gas industry. We began with the production of separate components, but have grown into a company that builds complete systems that are delivered on site.

Clients are given a guarantee for the whole system, and a fixed price. The challenge now is to take a new step towards the creation of complex systems, in which even more varied disciplines are unified. That could

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help make Frames really big, because there are only a few other players worldwide who can do that. We are talking about systems with a value of 100 to 200 million Euros, compared to the 30 to 40 million for the systems that we are building at present. That’s what we should aim to reach in five years’ time.

That will demand vision, daring, and the right people for the job.

Does Frames have all this in house?

During the rapid growth of the company, and actually all the time really, it has been difficult to attract high-quality staff. Frames scours universities and technical science colleges in its search for talent. Everyone who comes to work at Frames must be open to spending a term of three or four years abroad. In these times, when both partners in a family are often working, this requirement is proving to be difficult. Many women are no longer willing to leave their own jobs behind to move abroad with their husbands.

Frames has built up a good name for itself, and in theory we should be able to start building these large systems. It’s absolutely certain that there’s a market for them, but this step demands other qualifications than Frames possesses at this moment, so this step is difficult to take.

With Frames’ current composition, consisting for the most part of young professionals, taking this step will take longer. The average age of our staff members is 34, so we are faced with a lack of experience for this next step. We need structure and body, and have too few highly experienced managers who could guide such a growth project, and who could provide the necessary leadership to that extent. So we are coming up against the limitations of our own rapid growth.

And what about growth through a takeover or merger?

We are looking at this possibility, but it’s very difficult to find a good partner, one that is complementary to Frames. Naturally, if you’re a larger company and have taken on experienced people, it’s easier to win big contracts. But there is another side to that: at present, our people work side by side, they help each other where needed, and really work together in cooperation. I’m afraid that these unique characteristics of Frames might disappear if you add another group of people to the mix. People might then be more inclined to work along separate lines, instead of in close collaboration.

Together with Matthijs, you built up Frames from zero. Will you be able, as Supervisor, to keep the necessary distance, or is it difficult to let go?

As Director and major shareholder I’ve always been very critical, and have always kept a sharp eye on the business, but I realize now that I’ve become milder. I can see how well the staff is doing. I’ll still be keen to discuss the strategy, the future of Frames, or the market we’re operating in. That will take at least a couple of days each week. It’s a pity that Matthijs will be leaving at the end of this year. Especially since he’s been there since the beginning, and knows the company through and through.

But he feels that it’s time to stop.

Will there be enough time left over to just enjoy life, and your children and grandchildren?

Certainly. I always have plenty to do at home. This week my boat is going back on the water for the beginning of the boating season. In addition, my wife and I enjoy our trips, both here and abroad, sometimes with children or grandchildren. On average, the two of us spend a total of 4 months a year travelling. Twice a year we try to take a longer trip abroad.

We’ve seen quite a lot of the world by now, but I would really like to trek deeper into China sometime. Far away from the usual tourist routes. But there have to be some good hotels along the way; I’ve had enough of the more primitive style of travel. ¡

Young International Talent Writer: Editorial Staff Photographer: Henri Verhoef

PICS OF FUEL FOR LIFE

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he promising, young Amsterdam photographer Henri Verhoef is ready to make his dreams come true, now that he has graduated from the Royal Academy. Being inspired at the age of 14 to take up photography by the people in his surroundings, Henri bought a camera. Since then, he has wandered down several paths.

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NEW PIONEER

Henri aims to make life lighter with his photographs.

“I think a lot about socio-cultural public structures and often get angry about the situation today. I use this anger as the starting point for my projects.

Through photographic means I’m able to put myself and my relationship to the world in better perspective: it is a way to relativize myself and my environment. I sometimes can be overly sure of being right, although I don’t believe in absolute truths. I use this paradox to give my concepts form, for example by searching for the extreme in my work. My approach to the content is rather sober while the execution is quite theatrical, which produces a humorous undertone.” The exaggeration combined with common sense is clearly evident in the New Pioneer series, in which Henri presents six representatives of a fictitious subculture, revolving around the idea of small scale.

For example, Henri’s graduation project (crying men) concerns the norm of masculinity, and conformance and deviation. In a fashion editorial, Henri employs these themes more in the background, in the choice of model, poses and facial expressions. As, for example, in the Say Cheesy series.

S AY C H E E S Y

“I believe the aesthetic desire comes primarily from the fact that I don’t think the world is such a great place and I want to create an alternative through my work. I wouldn’t like to label my work utopian, because that sounds to me like I am striving to attain the impossible. I don’t believe that I can change the world with my work, but I do believe that I can say something about the world. What I want to achieve with my work is to search for the similarities, the connections between people, instead of emphasizing the differences.”

Henri: “What do I imagine my future will look like?

My dream or the reality? I think that everyone dreams about ultimate freedom. Only that’s not possible for many people. That is why I hope to come closer to that dream through a realistic approach. Continuing to make commissioned work and projects of my own, wherever possible. Within five years I want to be working in London as a fashion photographer. If I can achieve that, I shall have advanced considerably in pursuing my ultimate freedom.” ¡

MAN UP

The urge to continue developing ensures that Henri wants to keep doing his own creative projects alongside his applied fashion work. In these projects, his work can be based more on the content. “Form and content are equally important to me, but the balance between them differs from project to project,” says Henri.

“I think that everyone dreams about ultimate freedom.”

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New Pioneer Say Cheesy MAN UP

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Running a Micro Roastery at Home Writer: Editorial Staff Photographer: Paul Velder

or this story we met with Paul Velder, a former Frames employee who took a career sidestep into roasting coffee. His journey started when he had an exceptional espresso in one of London’s more popular espresso bars. As he walked out of the shop with his ‘espresso to go’, the taste of the coffee made him go back and buy a few bags to take home. Once these were all used up he thought, “Why can’t I get this in the Netherlands?”

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In a reply to an email requesting the opportunity to be a wholesale importer for the Netherlands, the roasters told him that it was possible, as they only sold the coffee roasted at their shop, in order to guarantee the freshness of the coffee. This sparked his interest, and soon enough he was roasting his own beans in a pan over a small camping stove. Just for himself and some of his friends.

Shortly after, while visiting a coffee plantation during a vacation in Nepal, he made the final decision.

Time to buy a roaster and take this to the next level.

Three years later he owns and runs a micro roastery for specialty coffee, set up in his home, selling fresh roasted coffee beans online and to local restaurants and offices.

ROASTING

As we join Paul he’s preparing the first batch of coffee to go into the roaster. A buzzer sounds, indicating that the roaster has reached the starting temperature. Paul opens up a slide, dropping the raw coffee beans into the roaster. In the next fourteen minutes these green beans will be transformed into the lovely brown coffee beans we have all come to love.

We’re about six minutes into the roast. The beans start to turn light brown, and an aroma of bread baking in the oven becomes apparent. At this stage the beans have shed most of their moisture and the Maillard reaction causes the beans to turn brown. Five minutes later, a soft popping sound like the popping of popcorn is audible. A smile appears on Paul’s face.

“First crack, it’s showtime!” he says.

‘First crack’ indicates the point from which the coffee starts developing its characteristic flavors and aromas. The moisture left inside the bean has turned into steam and cracks open the bean, creating the popping sound. As the beans pop and expand their volume, it’s time to pay maximum attention to the process.

The beans are now also heating up from the inside through exothermic reactions inside the bean. These chemical reactions are responsible for the creation of over 800 aromatic compounds within the bean.

By reducing the applied heat, the roasting process is carefully controlled and guided to the final stage.

“The art lies in making sure you develop the coffee just enough to make it taste good and caramelize enough of the sugars inside the bean, without destroying the delicate acidity of the coffee and producing too much bitterness. In order to find this optimal balance we first roast small batches to find the coffees taste range. This is called ‘sample roasting and cupping’”, Paul explains.

A little more than two minutes after the sound of the first crack, Paul opens the door to the roasting drum and the nicely roasted brown coffee beans are dropped into the cooling tray, stopping the roasting process. “Beautiful,” Paul smiles, as he puts one of the beans in his mouth and bites it, tasting the coffee.

He is clearly content with the result.

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AT T H E FA R M

“I am almost at the end of the chain. Before I can start roasting, the coffee beans have already traveled a long way,” says Paul as he talks about what’s going on at the farms where the coffee come from. Coffee

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is grown on shrubs which produce small red (and in some cases yellow or orange) ‘cherries’. The seeds of these coffee cherries are called coffee beans. Once these cherries are ripe they are harvested. In the lower regions where the landscape is less sloped, harvesting is done mechanically. In the highlands where the terrain is too steep, harvesting is done manually.

Once the cherries are picked they are ready to be processed. There are three main processing methods.

The dry processing method is mostly used in places where there is no or not enough water to process the coffee. Once harvested, the cherries are laid down in the sun to be dried. Once dry, the cherries are put through a huller, removing the skin and mucilage and exposing the raw green coffee bean. Using this method, the coffee has a wine-like characteristic. This is because the sugars and juices of the cherries’ mucilage transfer their taste to the bean during the drying period.

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“The art lies in making sure you develop the coffee just enough to make it taste good.”

With the washed method, the skin of the cherries is removed, after which the remaining raw beans are put in water-filled tanks overnight to ferment the mucilage, after which it is washed off. Once washed, the beans – which still have one layer of parchment around them – are spread out on terraces to dry in the sun. With this method, the coffees develop a more clean and fruity taste.

Thirdly, there’s the pulped natural method. Here the skins of the cherries are removed but instead of fermenting the mucilage, the beans are dried in the sun directly, before the final parchment layer is removed.

Because the skins have been removed, the beans dry more quickly, which prevents unwanted fermentation or rotting of the beans, a risk that is still present with the dry method. In all three cases, the coffee beans are sorted by size and color, making sure all inferior quality beans are removed, and only the best are shipped off to the roaster.

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Coffee cherries Washed method Terraces to dry beans Roasting drum Coffee packaging

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FA I R A N D S U S TA I N A B L E

Paul is often asked whether the farmers are getting a fair price for their coffee? “What I try to do is get as close as I can to the farmers or the cooperatives. This helps me to pay more for the coffee and make sure that the payment ends up where it belongs, with the farmers,” Paul explains.

“This makes it possible for them to take care of their families and prepare the farm, to ensure that they can harvest another round of healthy crop in the year to come. This also helps to build a relationship with the farmers and cooperatives, giving them more certainty regarding whether or not they will sell their precious coffee beans that they have been working so hard to produce.”

FINAL CARE

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Once the beans have sufficiently cooled, it’s time to pack them. Paul personally stamps the beautiful craft paper bags, adds the roast date, and writes the name of the coffee by hand. “I really love putting a little touch of myself onto each package,” he says. “If I could, I would hand-deliver each package directly to the customer, but unfortunately that’s not possible.”

Even though he can’t hand-deliver them himself, he makes sure the postman does. Just two days after the coffee has been roasted, the coffee lands in the customers mailbox, ready to be enjoyed.

Although Paul still has his day job as a Facility engineer for an offshore oil and gas operator, he can only imagine where he will be three or even twenty-seven years from now. Growing into a proud, solid company much like Frames has, over the last thirty years, sure sounds sweet. ¡

Water is in Their Genes Writer: Jeroen Bergman

But it’s not all a battle against the sea. The Dutch have long recognized the need to maintain their surface water quality as a major source for drinking water and irrigation. Although the first Dutch sewage system project was started around 1900, as late as the 1930s, many Dutch people still used so-called ‘sh-t buckets’ collected by the ‘tonnenboer’ or emptied into holes, sewage canals or rivers. Presently the Netherlands utilizes a 100,000-kilometer-long sewage system – long enough to circle the earth twice.

With water in their DNA, it’s no surprise that the Netherlands is home to the world’s top ten engineering companies in the water sector. With support from Dutch research institutes, universities and (local) governments they maintain a very high standard of knowledge and management skills.

P U T T I N G F R A M E S W AT E R D N A T O W O R K

With a fifth of their country below sea level, the Dutch are constantly battling – and protecting – the sea.

Windmills, dikes and canals form a powerful image of the Netherlands. Behind the pictures is a long history of salvaging land from the sea. Since the Middle Ages, the Dutch have defended their lands: The windmills pumped out excess water. The dikes and canals protected the reclaimed land. It’s often said, “Water is in their genes.”

Frames recognizes the potential for this water business in the oil and gas sector. The majority of oil reservoirs contain a substantial amount of formation water, which is a by-product of oil production. Aging wells in the U.S. and Middle East generate over 90 percent of this ‘produced water.’ Every day oilfields around the world produce an estimated 40 million cubic meters of water.

Produced water is either discharged to the sea or injected back into reservoirs. The produced water,

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however, is contaminated with oil and subject to regulations to protect the sea habitat and aquifers. Facing increasing amounts of produced water, as well at tougher legislation on discharge water quality, operators need efficient and reliable produced water treatment systems more than ever.

That’s where the Frames know-how kicks in. Backed by more than 25 years of experience in separation technology and packaged systems, the product management group can offer purpose-fitted produced water treatment solutions for every customer. From skimmer vessels for gas condensate production, up to complete produced water treatment plants for offshore and onshore oil production facilities, Frames can deliver.

Since the establishment of the product group some four years ago, Frames has contributed to the success of their clients. Petrobras, Total, Ithaca and BP all recognize Frames as a reliable, dedicated and flexible partner. Frames believes this forms a good basis for further growth of their produced water treatment business. ¡

“Every day oilfields around the world produce an estimated 40 million cubic meters of water.”

THE APPROACH IS SIMPLE:

• Find accessible clients who need engineering support – unique and smart solutions.

• Build long-term relationships based on trust between customers committed to their own companies and Frames employees committed to theirs.

• Involve dedicated and reliable suppliers with proven track records.

• Last, but not least, work together as a team – a family, really – towards the same goals, interests.

Support the team with the best solutions.

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“It’s very much a city bicycle, and the best thing about it is its robustness.”

Fiets Writer: Editorial Staff Photographers: Thomas Manneke & Bart van Heesch

A bicycle or bike, a ‘fiets’ in Dutch, is a humanpowered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A bicycle rider is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.

Bikes are the principal means of transportation for many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for use as children’s toys, general fitness, military and police applications, courier services, and bicycle racing.

Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century in the Netherlands, and with 19 million bikes the Netherlands has the highest bike density of the world.

The bike has become part of Dutch culture; foreigners often associate the Netherlands with the bicycle, together with windmills, tulips, cheese, and clogs.

C O P P E R B I K E BY B A R T VA N H E E S C H

utch designer Bart van Heesch became fed up of seeing so many bikes rotting away on every street corner. Van Heesch took a few home, and discovered that half an hour’s work and a drop of oil were enough to get them working again. The number of bikes that could be restored and easily used again was therefore considerable. He realized that in a packed city like Amsterdam, not everyone was able to keep their bikes inside. So what if a bike was developed that would improve with age? His idea for a copper bicycle was born.

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“The streets are sure to be brightened by the ‘Copper Bikes’. There’ll be less neglected bicycles. The more the bike rusts, the greener it becomes, just like the old copper roofs on houses. This effect also ties in nicely

Source: Wikipedia

The Copper Bike is a Granny Bike RIDES THROUGH FUEL FOR LIFE

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to the fact that people are adopting an increasingly green outlook.”

The ‘Copper Bike’ is a ‘granny bike’, a model that has existed for more than a century and which can be used by everyone. It’s very much a city bicycle, and the best thing about it is its robustness. Hardly anything ever goes wrong with it, and if it does, the offending part can easily be replaced. It’s also inexpensive, and is a symbol of Dutch culture, often being regarded as the quintessential Dutch bike.

Bart van Heesch is well known on account of his typical Dutch design. This is due, obviously, to the fact that he is himself Dutch, but also because the bike

components are produced by Dutch manufacturers.

The ‘Copper Bikes’ are made in an abandoned gym in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, before being immersed in a tub of copper in Enschede. From then on, they can only get greener.

The ‘Copper Bike’ is facing a green future. The aim is to persuade cyclists to look again at how they treat their bikes – in a greener way, certainly. If you like the idea of riding a ‘Copper Bike’, then contact Bart van Heesch at www.vanheeschdesign.com.

“You should expect some surprised and amazed looks from people. You can even receive an on-the-spot marriage proposal,” according to Van Heesch. ¡

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Living with a physical disability but not without snowboarding Writer: Editorial Staff Photographer: ANP

aking the impossible possible.

Ask Bibian Mentel what drives her to participate in elite sports and the answer is simple: to show that it’s possible to play sports at the highest level in spite of a physical limitation. Mentel lost her right lower leg at the age of 27, but refused to give up snowboarding. The ultimate reward followed in the mountains of Sochi on March 14, 2014. At the age of 41, this snowboarder won gold in the Paralympics. “You always need to focus on the possibilities, not the limitations,” she says.

Mentel was studying Law when she decided to swap her studies for a life as a professional snowboarder.

But her world fell to pieces in 2000 when doctors told her that it was not what appeared to be an innocent ankle injury but a malignant tumor in her right lower leg that was responsible for the physical problems she had been experiencing during the qualifying competition for the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. The tumor was removed, but returned. Bone cancer.

W H AT N O W ?

“The doctor gave me two days to decide whether or not to amputate. It was clear that I would be taking a huge risk if I chose not to amputate,” she says, look-

ing back. Mentel was an emotional wreck and feared that she would never again be able to continue as a professional snowboarder. Pain, sadness, desperation: she went through all the stages of grief after hearing the bad news and the amputation. “But I never asked, ‘why me’?:” Deliberately. After all, there is no answer to the question of ‘why me?’. But I did cry for two entire days. My first question was whether I’d ever be able to snowboard again.”

Mentel was absolutely determined to get back on her board. Her entire life revolved around snowboarding. Learning to live with the prosthesis was a long process, unlike getting back on a snowboard. Four months after the operation, she was once again in the snow and, three months later, Dutch snowboard champion among able-bodied athletes. In the rehabilitation center, she was told that it would take at least

“The doctor gave me two days to decide whether or not to amputate.”

a year and a half before she could stand on a snowboard again. “I can’t live without it. It’s a way of life.

The freedom, the nature, racing through the snow with friends. Getting back on a snowboard after four months gave me a huge amount of self-confidence and energy for my rehabilitation process. This is what determined my success.”

A year after the operation, Mentel became pregnant with her son Julian. Life on the road among ablebodied athletes was no longer an option, but sixteen months after the birth of her son, fate struck once more. The cancer had returned. It had spread to her lungs. This was followed by an operation and yet another and, ultimately, a third: two operations on her left lung, one on her right. “I was much more afraid than with the tumor in my leg. I suddenly realized that things could take a turn for the worse. But Julian gave me something to fight for. The fear of a relapse has never fully disappeared, but I don’t let it rule my life.

I enjoy each and every day.”

It turned out that her will to live was extremely strong. The process of repeated setbacks and recov-

ery also made clear to her that there was still plenty of work to be done for the disabled in the Netherlands. “We handle the disabled with kid gloves, sometimes too much so. The bar is often set too low. Snowboarding is cool and those with a physical disability can also enjoy this sport. It’s important to show that it’s possible,” she says to explain her motivation for the sport. “That’s something I’m working on continuously.”

This was the start of a new challenge. Her goal was to help get snowboarding included on the Paralympic program. Eight years of lobbying paid off right before Sochi. “After the amputation, I was determined not to throw in the towel, as tempting as it sometimes was. I had pain, doubts – but snowboarding is my life.

The Olympic platform is the best way to show that you can lead an active life with a physical disability.

This has been my focus. After all, it’s all about character,” says the now ‘golden’ founder of the Mentelity Foundation. “My work is not yet done. I’ll be back in the game in 2018. I want to convince everyone that young adults with a physical disability can do so much more than people think.” ¡

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Dutch Design Writer: Editorial Staff Designer: Hugo Timmermans

ugo Timmermans has always found creative freedom through knowledge of materials and production processes. “Knowing your boundaries defines your creative space,” he says. As an industrial designer he tries to bridge the gap between the industry and the consumer. Bringing creative ideas to feasible, producible products. He won several national and international prizes and his work has been exhibited on various fairs and in museums.

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Born and partially raised in Africa, he studied Industrial Design at the Design Academy in Eindhoven.

Hugo recalls, “I tried many different things after my studies. I started as a furniture designer in my own workshop, making one-offs and small series, learning how to manufacture. Later I began to feel the limitation of working with only wood and steel. I needed more freedom, in using materials but also in the choice of products I wanted to design. I set up a small design company that allowed me to further explore two paths – developing industrial products, and designing interiors and exhibitions.”

To a certain extent, the market determines what Hugo will work on. In recent years for instance, the amount of assignments in interior architecture have decreased dramatically in the Dutch market due to the crisis; commissions almost dried up. However, Hugo took the opportunity and developed a few ideas for industrial products in the time he found.

“That means you’re taking a significant risk,” Hugo continues, “the risk being primarily the amount of time you spend on developing the ideas. The process starts with a good idea, often arising from my own needs or frustration about existing products.

I then take it forward into the engineering stage, it forces me to make design-decisions to the smallest detail, and gives me the possibility to complete the product case.”

“It is fairly easy to make a sketch of a good looking product, but designing and engineering a feasible product is another thing. I’m not a schooled engineer, but I’ve taught myself engineering skills so that I’m able to express myself as a designer. Plus today’s software and the accessibility to information give me such an enormous opportunity to develop my ideas further, where I would’ve needed ‘professional’ partners before. I think this is a huge benefit to this generation of designers,” says Hugo.

This ‘reversed’ way of developing; initiating product development without a client, then trying to find one once the product is engineered, can lead to dead-ends however. But sometimes it does work. One of Hugo’s success stories is that of a luminaire designed by him and a fellow designer. Hugo: “We wanted to develop a series of products and find a platform for it.

We took part in a European competition for promoting energy efficient lighting in the consumer market.

By locking ourselves away for a few weeks, we were able to produce four good entries for submission. We won three first prizes, and the whole collection was bought by Luceplan, one of the best Italian lighting producers. One luminaire was eventually launched on the market worldwide. These success stories feed my motivation. And I really enjoy exploring from within, meaning that I feel there is a purpose or need for a specific product or functionality. I really think good designers can help to make better products, ones that will last, or solve a problem. A designer has a responsibility in the choice of products he or she works on.”

“It’s fairly easy to make a sketch of a good looking product, but designing and engineering a feasible product is another thing.”

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AIRCON

An award winning energy efficient luminaire for home and office, designed by Hugo Timmermans and Willem van der Sluis for Luceplan. Available in white and orange. (www.luceplan.it)

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Concept for a home-office luminaire. LED lighting is changing the look of products familiar to us, like the desktop office lamp.

In this case the light source is flat and can become a handle.

S TA C

The contract chair is inspired by innovative material: Natural Fiber Reinforced plastic, in this case Polypropylene (PP) reinforced with Flax. Lighter and stronger than glass fiber reinforced PP, while it costs less energy to produce and can be recycled into similar products up to 5 cycles, whereas glass fiber gives huge problems at the end of its products life.

ONE-SIZE

Garden bench and table set. The laser-cut and bent steel side frames, combined with pieces of wood of the same size lead to this simple but charming outdoor furniture. Over the years the wood will turn grey, matching the steel frames.

KIBO GRILL

The culinary outdoor grill concept. The cast-iron grate contains the heat from the fire, and sears the meat. The grill is designed like a toolbox, making it easy to transport. Hugo was inspired by the safaris he made in Africa, and named the grill after the only working volcano in Africa on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, on which slopes he lived as a child.

“I think there are too many ‘gadgety’, trendy consumer products. That’s a side of ‘design’ I don’t feel comfortable with. I strive to make design that’s transparent, in its function, reason for existence, and how it is made.”

Various products have emerged from his ‘ideas factory’. At any given time, therefore, he has products ‘on the shelve’, waiting for a client. Ultimately, the products will find their way, he says.

Among the things he’s currently working on is a portable grill for culinary cooking, the test version of which is already working. Hugo explains, “I wanted to be able to grill outdoors to a proper culinary standard. When a chef cooks a steak, he’ll use a pan with a thick base, because it stores the heat and will sear the meat. I’ve translated this concept to a grill on which you can cook your steak medium-rare if so desired. My aim is to find an international manufacturer who can invest in the molds and can roll out the concept. This is an industrially designed barbecue. In other words, I also do the mechanical and financial calculations, calculate the return on investment, etcetera. Products such as the Kibo Grill are my ambassadors.”

For more information about Hugo Timmermans and his company ‘Optic’, you can visit the website: www.optic.nl ¡

“I strive to make design that’s transparent, in its function, reason for existence, and how it is made.”

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Gas Storage Writer: Editorial Staff Photographer: Marc Dorleijn

hy gas storage?

Underground Gas Storage (UGS) is a method to temporarily store natural gas. Gas storage is a proven technique that is practiced in many places all over the world. Worldwide there are hundreds of underground gas storage facilities. The gas is stored underground in large volumes as:

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• A strategic inventory to compensate for any interruption in the gas supply directly from the gas wells in the unlikely event that this regular supply stops. This might be due to technical problems, nature influences (hurricanes, flooding, etc.), but sometimes also for political reasons.

• A peak shaver, to compensate for extra demand in cold(er) winter periods, for example, when demands increase beyond regular production capacity.

• A business case, since large volumes of natural gas have commercial value when available on demand. Gas prices are lower in summer because there is less demand. In winter, gas prices may be higher on the ‘spot’ market and will be sold direct from the storage.

• In the future, it potentially serves the buffering of renewable energy, such as wind energy. In this case, the power generated is used to convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen into methane gas which can be easily stored, unlike electrical power which normally can’t be stored or sold when not needed.

“Gas prices are lower in the summer because there is less demand.”

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For this reason, the UGS is located as close as possible to the consumers to assure that their gas supply is uninterrupted. The UGS facilities can be fed with regular gas transports through large pipelines or using LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) tankers available to the (spot) market.

LNG tankers are generally used when there is no pipeline infrastructure across extremely long transport distances. LNG is simply an alternative method to transporting natural gas, cooled to minus 160°C and with a volume approximately 600 times less than the equivalent mass of gaseous methane. Thus 600 m3 of natural gas will shrink to a volume of around 1 m3 of LNG. Nevertheless, in Europe, most natural gas is transported through pipelines from Russia or Norway over land and sea to the west and south.

For UGS facilities, a minimum volume is required to make the storage viable. As an indication of the volumes which can be stored in a UGS, one of the world’s largest UGS facilities is found in the Netherlands and has a working volume of some 4.1 billion m3. Furthermore, 4.6 billion m3 cushion gas is needed to maintain sufficient pressure in the storage reservoir.

“4.6 Billion m3 cushion gas is needed to maintain sufficient pressure in the storage reservoir.”

THE MAIN TYPES OF UGS GEOMETRIES ARE:

1. Depleted gas reservoirs The most prominent and common form of underground storage. These are reservoir formations of natural gas fields that have produced all their economically recoverable gas. The depleted reservoir formation is readily capable of holding injected natural gas. Of the main types of underground storage, depleted reservoirs are generally the cheapest and easiest to develop, operate and maintain.

2. Empty salt domes Underground salt formations are ideal for natural gas storage. Salt caverns allow very little of the injected natural gas to escape from storage unless specifically extracted. The walls of a salt cavern are strong and impervious to gas over the lifespan of the storage facility. To make the cavern suitable for natural gas storage, fresh water is pumped down a borehole into the salt. Some of the salt is dissolved leaving a void and the water, now saline, is pumped back to the surface. The process continues until the cavern is the desired size. Salt caverns are usually much smaller than depleted gas reservoirs. A salt cavern facility may occupy only one percent of the volume as typically found in a depleted gas reservoir.

In order to dry the gas when it is extracted (produced) from the UGS, the free water and dissolved (gaseous) water must be removed. The free water is removed by gravitational separation methods while the gaseous water is removed by dehydration (dew pointing) to an extent required by the pipeline distribution network.

To dehydrate the natural gas, the following technologies can be used: 1. Absorption: Gas dehydration with glycol, including glycol regeneration 2. Adsorption: Gas dehydration treatment with dry desiccants such silica gel Absorption is gas dehydration with glycol as a liquid absorption medium and most widely used in the gas production industry. Di-ethylene glycol (DEG) or tri-ethylene glycol (TEG) satisfies most of these requirements.

Water-free (lean) glycol is fed to the top of an absorber column, where it comes into contact with the wet natural gas stream. The glycol removes water from the gas by physical absorption.

After leaving the absorber, the (water) rich glycol is routed to the regeneration package for purification (removal of the water by boiling it off) allowing for re-use of the glycol.

Adsorption is gas dehydration with silica gel, for example. These are similar to the small bags of granules that you often find in electronics packaging.

This silica gel adsorbs the water vapor so that your gadgets stay dry during storage and transport. The ‘adsorber’ towers used at a UGS facility are also filled with silica gel. Leading the gas through the towers makes the silica gel adsorb the water. Normally each UGS accommodates a minimum of two adsorption towers, one in ‘duty mode’ and one in ‘regeneration mode’ allowing continuous operation and re-use of the silica gel.

A TYPICAL UGS CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING MAIN COMPONENTS:

• Slug catcher, to protect downstream equipment, collecting slugs upstream of the gas dehydration equipment.

• Compression gas cooler, compressed gas often needs cooling down.

• Compression scrubber, to efficiently separate (condensated) liquids and/or solids from gas.

• Wellhead control, the master connection to the storage fields needs to be protected by a failsafe shutdown system.

• HIPPS, High Integrity Pipeline Protection Systems are the last line of defense for the process plant and thereby also cater for environmental safety.

• Inhibitor injection packages consisting of pumps, chemical reservoirs and controlled dosing systems can inject specified amounts of chemicals into the flow stream, continuously or on demand.

• Hydrate inhibitor chemicals such as Glycol and Methanol are costly and preferably retrieved from the gas to be re-used.

• Gas Heat Exchanger, to provide necessary heating and avoid hydrate formation in the gas.

• Fuel gas conditioning package, to create optimum conditions for combustion in gas turbines / engines.

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In the United Kingdom, Storengy UK is developing the Stublach underground natural gas storage facility.

With twenty salt caverns, the facility will store up to 400 million m³ of natural gas. The first two caverns are becoming commercially operational in the year 2014, and will be followed by a further eight over the months till the end of year 2015. The solution mining program is expected to reach completion three years later.

For the Stublach facility, Storengy UK has chosen Frames dehydration towers and regeneration units.

Cooperation between the teams of both companies has been fruitful, with hot commissioning of the units now in progress with Frames’ support.

A subsidiary of GDF SUEZ, Storengy has been designing, developing, and operating underground natural gas storage sites for nearly 60 years. Internation-

ally recognized for its expertise, Storengy is one of the few operators to combine skills as varied as subsurface sciences, drilling, and completion techniques, underground reservoir engineering, industrial safety, design, and operation of surface facilities of all types.

With a portfolio of 22 underground storage facilities and a total storage capacity of 12.5 billion m³ through France, Germany and the UK, Storengy is also active in other parts of the world, with offices in Canada and China particularly.

The UK is with about 78 billion m³ of gas consumed in 2012 the second largest European gas consumer behind Germany, accounting thus for some 15% of the total European gas demand.

In the UK and elsewhere, UGS has a pivotal role to play in meeting growing needs for flexibility, and underpinning security of supply. ¡

Eat like a Malaysian!

Writers: Suerd Polderdijk & Merel Arnoldussen

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udah Makan? This is the typical first question you’re asked when meeting a Malaysian: “Have you eaten?” Sudah makan? is usually followed by a (rather friendly) interrogation concerning your last meal. What have you eaten? Where have you eaten it? What did it cost you? Would you recommend it? Your discussion partner is more than willing to give you his best addresses for your favorite dish.

A C U L I N A RY WA L K I N G TO U R T H R O U G H K UA L A LU M P U R

Start the day, and your tour, with a hearty Indian breakfast. The Indian influence in Malaysian cuisine started in the 19th century when large arrivals of Indian migrants were brought into the country as contract laborers to work in rubber estates and on the railways. NorthIndian breakfast is available everywhere – in restaurants, food courts and hawker stalls. It’s a delicious breakfast, rich in freshly-ground spices combined with bread-like dishes.

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University

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Go for the Naan (leavened bread) and the flakey golden Roti Canai, which is a type of Indian-influenced flatbread often served with curries and used for scooping. The naan bread dough is rolled out, and then slapped on the inside of the ‘tandoor’ oven, where it cooks very quickly in the fierce heat to make it a delicious breakfast dish.

1.

Raju Restaurant, No. 27, Jalan Chantek 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

If you like to combine your breakfast with a hike in the city jungle – to burn a few of those – admittedly numerous – calories, head to Bukit Gasing Forest Park. This is patch of jungle that covers over 100 hectares and is a popular hiking destination. The highest point (over 160 meters) gives a panoramic view over both Kuala Lumpur and the neighboring Petaling Jaya. For your breakfast, try the Indian-style Raju restaurant, next to the entrance of the park. This simple restaurant gives you a good insight into the different ethnic groups in Malaysia: Indian ladies in beautiful saris, Chinese workers next to Malay women wearing Hijabs; they all enjoy breakfast here.

2.

Teh’ Tarik Place Brickfields Sooka Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, 50470 Kuala Lumpur

As a ‘coffee break’ after your hike, drink teh tarik. This sweet tea, which is literally translated to ‘pulled tea’ is considered as the national drink in Malaysia. Its name is derived from the pouring process of ‘pulling’ the drink during preparation. A mixture of black tea, condensed milk and/or evaporated milk is poured through the air between two cups until it reaches a rich, frothy texture - skilled teh tarik artists never spill a drop! More than just showmanship and tradition, pouring teh tarik through the air cools the tea to the optimal drinking temperature and produces a foamy head. The ability to drag a long stream of tea above the heads of the patrons without giving them a shower is an amusing novelty for the locals and tourists alike.

3.

Din Tai Fung 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang 55100 Kuala Lumpur

For lunch, go to the award-winning (but cheap!) Din Tai Fung restaurant, specializing in Shanghainese dishes and Xiao Long Bao (steamed dumplings). Try the signature Pork Xiao Long Bao and the Truffle Xiao Long Bao. When eaten, their dumplings create an explosion of rich, steaming, hot soup oozing onto the groove of your tongue, and leave you craving only one thing: more! Every dumpling pastry is delicately handmade ‘to measure between precisely 4.8 and 5.2 grams at conception, with an exact 6 cm diameter, before being stuffed to weigh between 20.8 and 21.2 grams’ – worth a try, right? It’s interesting to see the cooks freshly fold and stuff the dumplings.

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by hundreds of Chinese lanterns, interspersed with hawker stands selling fruits, barbequed meats, hanging ducks, roasted frogs on a stick, the (in)famous Durian fruit (very smelly!), and so on. We’re a big fan of the ‘steamboat’ stalls, where you can choose your own sticks of fresh meat, fish, frog, lobster and vegetables, and you can cook it yourself in a boiling bouillon at your table.

5.

Heli Lounge Bar Bukit Bintang 34th Floor Menara KH, Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250 Kuala Lumpur

4.

Jalan Alor Bukit Bintang 50200 Kuala Lumpur

After spending an afternoon of shopping and sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur, it’s time to head for a nice dinner. The famous ‘food street’ Jalan Alor is your next stop. All you need to bring is an adventurous spirit and a good appetite. During the day, there isn’t much activity, but when the sun goes down, the street will be hustling and bustling with activity: Both sides of Jalan Alor are lined by endless rows of street food stalls and outdoor restaurants, decorated

With a happy filled stomach, it’s time for the Kuala Lumpur nightlife! There are many bars and cafés along and around Changkat Bukit Bintang to fulfil your needs. If you want something more spectacular, head to Heli Lounge Bar. The Heli Lounge Bar is located on an actual helipad, on the rooftop of the Menara KH commercial building in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. In this bar customers can spend the evening sipping cocktails on the 36th-floor helicopter landing pad, with no walls or windows to block their 360-degree view of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline.

After enjoying a nice evening of sipping cocktails, go for a midnight snack at Nagasari Curry house – a famous curry house in Kuala Lumpur, open 24 hours a day. We’re a big fan of their Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, vegetable curry and Roti Telur.

Now the circle of your delicious day in Kuala Lumpur is complete – starting the day with ‘sedap’ (delicious) Malay-Indian food and also ending with it. Selamat Makan (enjoy your dinner)! ¡

6.

Restaurant Nagasari Curry House Jalan Nagasari 50200 Kuala Lumpur

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Eclectic Jazzman Michiel Borstlap Writer: Kateryna Kyselyova Photographer: Yuri Rudnev

ichiel Borstlap is one of the most interesting phenomena in contemporary jazz music: he combines massive musical talent, a lively manner on stage and an outstanding gift for composition and improvisation with a deep interest in experimenting musically.

A winner of the important Thelonious Monk Composers Award in 1996, Borstlap has performed around the world on the most prestigious of stages.

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Michiel Borstlap was born in the Netherlands into a family that loved and constantly listened to good music.

“At the age of four I heard jazz and fell in love,” he says. “After that I always dreamed about making a career in music, in jazz in particular.

My mother loved Oscar Peterson and Gustav Mahler and my dad loved Thelonious Monk, J.S. Bach and Jimi Hendrix.

That was my musical education! I owe my parents big-time for their love of music, which they shared with me at such a young age.”

Michiel moved quickly from dreaming to reality, graduating from Hilversum Conservatory in 1992 and earning Best Soloist honors at the Europe Jazz Contest the same year.

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Four years later came the Thelonious Monk Award and then a range of successful collaborations with legends like Herbie Hancock, Bill Bruford, Gino Vannelli, Ludovico Einaudi, Wayne Shorter and others. Borstlap has released fifteen albums under his own name and has written numerous compositions for other groups, both jazz and classical.

In fact, Borstlap is a natural at both composing and performing. When I ask which of these two is more important to him, his answer is simple: “To compose or to improvise is the same, except for the timeframe.

Improvising happens in split seconds, composing lasts much longer.”

“I could be happy with just a piano, but somehow I need a stage. On stage there is electricity. I would be less happy if I didn’t have that in life.

That electricity I haven’t found anywhere else. The more famous you are, the more you get on stage. The stage is the place where I live.” Improvisation remains central to Borstlap’s music. “With the band we combine groove with the so-called intelligent stuff, but all in an improvisational way. That makes life on stage at times risky, but that’s the way I want to make music.” This risk and the adrenaline rush, of course, is what attracts both musicians and the audience to jazz music. I ask Michiel to define jazz and he says, “Jazz is freedom, while managing the instrument’s technique. I love freedom. It’s a unique feeling to go with your head full of music and improvise for an audience along with the band. I heard

Image by Edwin Smulders

that freedom when I listened to Art Tatum, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Miles, Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix, etc.”

Borstlap’s bold collaboration with British drummer Bill Bruford, perhaps most famous for playing with King Crimson, is one of the most interesting projects in modern improvised music, and their CD ‘In Two Minds’, with its intimate and conversational tracks, met with much success in Europe. Last year Borstlap also released his own nu-jazz album, titled ‘Eldorado’. Nu-jazz is a daring combination of funk, soul, electronic music and (of course) improvisation.

1998 3 / Michiel Borstlap, Ernst Glerum & Han Bennink

G E T T I N G I N T O O P E R A

Apart from his studio work, Borstlap actively tours around the world, including in such far-flung countries as Japan, China, Tanzania, and India. His travels inspire him.

“People affect me. I need contact with people, it makes me run faster.

People around the world are different and yet so similar. They appreciate similar things. People from all over the world connect, but it seems that neighboring countries, caused by historical or religious causes, are fighting everywhere. Human beings are equal, it doesn’t matter where you are.”

“Everybody has their own beauty and through traveling it became easier to discover these beauties.

When I heard the Middle Eastern Farid al Atrash playing the ud it certainly influenced my playing on the piano. It all fell into place when I composed the world’s first Arabic opera. An opera was the perfect way to combine the musical experiences of the world.”

I ask Michiel to imagine a day when all music has disappeared, and I get quite the response. “That would be terrible…” Then he laughs.

“Well, then I would go to a remote place on earth and enjoy the sunshine. I’ve enjoyed the flying lessons I’ve had, so maybe I would become a pilot, maybe because I like traveling.

Otherwise I would be a painter. I like designing, too. Apart from music I wrote a book, and columns in Esquire and other magazines.” For now, music’s safe in the world, and Michiel says he’s never without it.

Since four years Michiel’s performance has drastically shifted towards a new way of playing piano solo concerts.

I asked Michiel what triggered this change; “After my tours through Canada and Brazil it started to change. Various people really looked forward to hear my songs, my compositions.

I’ve never experienced that before. This made me aware to reach out more with soul than with technique.”

1999 Body Acoustic / Michiel Borstlap

2010 Solo 2010 / Michiel Borstlap

2011 Blue (Songs From Father to Daughter) / Michiel Borstlap

Are you a happy man?

“When I make music I’m a very happy man. Music has the power to reach people, the power to relate to people in a different way and make people feel good.” ¡

2012 88 / Michiel Borstlap Trio

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The Seven Seas Writer: Jacco Mooijer

bout two thirds of the surface of our planet is covered with water, so why should we be confined to the one third of land mass available? This question has probably been raised millions of times during our relatively brief history of existence.

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History indeed recalls the Dutch as being brave conquerors of the seven seas during the 17th century, and masters in ingenuity applied in shipbuilding and water management while exploring regions beyond the known world at the time. Strongholds and settlements were set up in North America, South East Asia and Australia, to name a few places. The current generation, as well as future ones, will build upon this heritage when looking into new opportunities to

provide the world with sources of energy, particularly from offshore locations.

For decades most of the oceanic sub-surface features remained unexplored, due to the technical and commercial restrictions at hand. Nevertheless, in the past few decades a tremendous leap forward has been made with respect to making the richness of the oceans accessible. Where no fixation on the seabed was possible by means of jacket supports for offshore structures, ideas were converted into reality based on the principle of allowing the structures to float.

What’s easier than using the concept of a ship when one is in need of a floating platform for your ‘exploration and production’ facilities? Nothing much, so

the idea for the phenomenon ‘FPSO’ gained a foothold pretty quickly. FPSO stands for Floating Production, Storage & Off-loading. In other words, this structure provides all you need to produce oil from reservoirs located in deeper to ultra-deep waters. Say from a few hundred meters to a few kilometers of water depth.

Looking at the floating facilities, a few more possibilities exist in the form of SPAR and Tension Leg Platforms, each with unique capabilities and features.

The SPAR is a cylindrical hull floating vertically in the water, on top of which a platform is located. The larger part is under the waterline. The SPAR is kept in place by mooring onto an FPSO. The name stems from the old custom of using logs which vertically float in the water as buoys.

“For decades most of the oceanic sub-surface features remained unexplored.”

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“Offshore conditions can be extreme, especially in certain regions of the world like the North Sea during the stormy seasons.”

The Tension Leg Platform, or TLP for short, is a platform which is vertically moored to the seabed and does not allow for movement, unlike the FPSO. Therefore the well heads (X-Mas Trees) are mounted on the topsides instead of the sea bed, and are connected via rigid risers to the reservoirs. These are mostly dedicated new-built structures, whereas an FPSO may be a converted vessel previously used as a bulk cargo (crude oil) carrier.

An FPSO is usually an oil tanker (new-built or converted), which carries, on its deck space, all the equipment you’ll find at an onshore oil producing facility. Note that with oil production, in addition to the crude oil you also produce natural gas and water, which need treatment and handling as well. The oil/crude product is temporarily stored in the ship’s

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cargo tanks (inside the hull). This cargo is shuttled to shore by shuttle tankers on a regular basis. Typical production figures lie between 50,000 to 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

What makes an FPSO difficult to engineer and build?

The size of these facilities is mind-boggling. Apart from that, the facility floats, so it will be moving on top of the waves and might be turning its bow into the wind to obtain the best position in every situation. Offshore conditions can be extreme, especially in certain regions of the world like the North Sea during the stormy seasons.

The coupling between the process facilities on the deck (topside) of the vessel is catered for within a so-called turret. In this assembly the relatively flexible

Courtesy SBM

risers (flow lines from the well at the bottom of the sea through which the crude oil flows towards the FPSO) are coupled in such a way that the FPSO is able to freely turn around this point without the need of decoupling the facility from the risers. This requires state-of-the-art technology, for which Frames is supplying key elements. However, an emergency de-coupling should also be possible.

Frames supplies a significant part of the equipment that is installed topside, ranging from the crude separation/treatment train, the produced water treatment, the associated gas treatment facilities, and the chemical injection facilities (flow assurance), as well as the hydraulic systems related to the turret controls, the safeguarding and sealing systems, and last but not least the sub-sea controls and safeguarding systems.

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Nowadays the development goes even further, with the current version of facilities being capable of liquefaction of the gas produced, such that not only oil fields can be handled, but gas fields as well. These gas fields have become the newest endeavor, and the acronym FPSO then becomes FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural gas). The latter installation is even more complex with respect to the topside facilities. With respect to this gas production, another issue must also be faced. In the future, this gas will no longer be able to be flared, and thus requires liquefaction or conversion into synthetic hydrocarbon liquids to allow for storage or mixing with the crude oil produced.

The advantage of the FPSO or FLNG is that these facilities can move across the seas to whatever location desired, such that production can, over time, be

picked up at different locations. Normally, conversions are required in between such relocations, as gas or oil fields prove to be different in composition and behavior.

Furthermore, looking back over our shoulders to the global environmental issues and the future energy demand, plans are being made for future operations based on renewable energy like tidal energy, thermal energy conversion, or wind farm (offshore) facilities on top of TLP bases, for instance, which might require power to gas technologies to cope with peaks in electricity generation. The possibilities are endless, as the production of energy will continue be a necessity for the global society we live in, now and in the future.

Frames is committed to looking at improvements for the existing technologies for the floating facilities as well as the future of renewables in the field of floating facilities related to energy production.

For many years to come this promises to be an interesting and challenging field of expertise which we are keen to develop and take on, together with all our stakeholders. ¡

“The advantage of the FPSO or FLNG is that these facilities can move across the seas to whichever location desired.”

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Energy Facts & Future Writer: Rudy Weerheim Infographics: Ramiro Amorena

Today’s energy consumption 88% is burning fossil

2014

oil gas coal

Global Oil Prices

$100

280 Barrels equivalent / day 12% is alternative nuclear 4% hydro 6% renewables 2%

$50

/ barrel

/ barrel

=

13 Billion ton of oil equivalent / year

/ oil equivalent barrel

RUSSIA

$4.6 TRILLION A YEAR REVENUES

$0.7 TRILLION

/ year

EUROPE JAPAN IRAK

IRAN

QUATAR

Global Expenditure (on the exploration, development and production of oil and gas)

S. ARABIA

CHINA

INDIA

1500 Billion Barrels 33 Million / day

Oil 6.5% KUWAIT7% UAE

IRAQ

9.5%

IRAN

10% 17.5%

S. ARABIA

Gas 13%

QUATAR

17.5% IRAN

25%

RUSSIA

200 Trillion m3

World Proven Reserves

2 Million / day

25% of Total

1.35 Billion m3 / day

International Trade Per Day

0,6 Billion m3 / day

30% of Total

Shale Production In U.S.

Consumption

Tomorrow’s energy increase

84% is burning fossil

2034

oil 28% gas 28% coal28%

17.5 Billion ton of oil equivalent / year 380 Barrels equivalent / day

12% is alternative nuclear 4% hydro 6% renewables 6%

The global market of Frames The production of oil and gas, represents 32% and 26% respectively of the global energy supply: per day roughly 90 million barrels of oil (75 million barrels of crude oil and 15 million barrels of gas liquids) and 9.4 billion m3 of dry natural gas.

Map Legend Main Importer / Oil Main Importer / Gas

I

n the next twenty years global energy consumption will increase by 35 percent to 17.5 billion ton of oil equivalent per year, approximately 380 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.

It is expected that by 2034 oil, gas and coal will contribute in more or less equal amounts of 28 percent each to the global energy supply. Oil production is thus expected to increase by 18 percent to 106 million barrels per day and gas production by 45 percent to 13.6 billion m3 per day.

The contribution of nuclear and hydro to the global energy supply will remain more or less constant at respectively 4 percent and 6 percent.

The share of renewables in the global energy supply will increase from 2 percent to 6 percent.

Although in absolute terms energy from renewable resources will effectively quadruple over the next twenty years, for its energy supply the world will remain largely dependent on fossil fuels.

Europe, Japan, China and India will become more and more dependent on imports from Russia, Africa and the Middle East.

Main Exporter / Oil Main Exporter / Gas

The level of global oil prices in twenty years’ time is highly unpredictable.

However, ever increasing exploration and development costs for oil and gas strongly indicate a further upward trend. The price of gas is expected to increase even faster, thus narrowing the current price gap between oil and gas. ¡ 43 Million / day

Total oil and gas production (2034)

Oil trade will increase 2.5 Billion m3 / day

Increases Gas trade will increase

Shale Production In U.S. (2034)

International Trade Per Day (2034) of total

NUMBERS ABOUT FUEL FOR LIFE

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Gadgets Writer: Mconomy Gadgets: Mconomy

FITBIT FLEX

How healthy are you? This stylish armband tracks your steps, distance and calories burned during the day and your sleep quality during the night. Connect the device to your smartphone and PC to track your personal goals. Make fitness a lifestyle!

B E AT S S O L O 2

The #1 best-selling headphone in the world just got better! Refresh to the iconic Solo HD Headphone.

Fully redesigned from the ground up to deliver improved acoustics, cosmetic design and comfort!

• Inspired Form Factor from Studio flagship headphone, Matching Beats Styling • Improved Acoustics & Durability • High Gloss Monochromatic Styling • Foldable Design For Convenient Storage • New Hardshell Carry Case (Same Design As Studio)

THINGS AS FUEL FOR LIFE

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POWERROCKS – MAGIC STICK

This portable magic stick is easy to use and charges just as fast as a standard wall charger. It’s available in different colors and has aluminum housing to ensure safety and durability. Take the stick with you, everywhere you go.

MONSTER ISPORT RANGE

The in-ear headphones of Monster iSport are suitable for every sport. With the patented sports clip it fits perfectly in every ear. The headphones are sweatproof, shockproof and washable. The on-ear headphone is wireless (connect via Bluetooth). It’s water-resistant, sweatproof and cleanable.

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GEAR4 ESPRESSO BLUETOOTH SPEAKER

This small but powerful portable speaker is available in five stunning colors and can be easily connected to your smartphone, tablet or MP3 with Bluetooth. Listen to your favorite music wirelessly for up to four hours. Attach the speaker to your clothes, bag or bike with the handle clip.

Abu Dhabi: A Story of Evolution Editorial Staff

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pace. The discovery of more giant oil fields in the 1970s and 1980s aided in the transformation. Before 1971, oil exploration and exploitation had been carried out by foreign firms. But then Abu Dhabi began to establish its own oil companies beginning with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC. Today ADNOC is one of the largest oil firms in the world with a great number of subsidiaries in the oil sector, as well as in maritime transport.

With ADNOC, Abu Dhabi’s economic evolution began, as proceeds from oil sales were invested into building up a modern emirate and a modern city. The Abu Dhabi municipality started providing comprehensive services to the public and kicked off proper planning strategies for the developing capital. he year 1971 was historic for Abu Dhabi. That year, H.E. Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan signed the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates and became the president of the new nation with Abu Dhabi as its capital. That year also marked the point at which the largest emirate of the UAE began its journey of unprecedented growth to become the metropolis it is today.

The era that saw Abu Dhabi as a dusty kingdom of 20,000 inhabitants living on a stretch of sand on the coast of the Arabian Gulf may be long gone, but the work to create the city of today had started even then. Much of the transition in the early days before the formation of the UAE was the work of Shaikh Zayed, the beloved emir and a liberal ruler whose wealth derived from the newly discovered oil reservoirs beneath Abu Dhabi’s soil and off its coast.

While his ancestors, who can be traced to the Bani Yas Bedouins of the Liwa Oasis, ruled the country from the backs of their camels, Shaikh Zayed traveled by limousine to oversee the establishment of Abu Dhabi, its development and its urbanization.

After the UAE was formed, the following 33 years under Shaikh Zayed’s rule saw the city, as well as the emirate of Abu Dhabi, develop at an unprecedented

“Until 1990, Abu Dhabi was still a small town, with low-rise buildings, But during the 1990s a cultural shift toward more modern architecture began.”

Regularized road networks were built. Maintenance services, sewerage, lighting, housing, social services and hospitals were provided. Public markets were established and an agriculture development plan was launched, a remarkable feat for a country with arable land covering only one percent of its territory.

The 1980s saw the opening of Abu Dhabi to the rest of the world. Abu Dhabi International Airport was inaugurated at its current location, taking over commercial passenger handling from the old airport, the military airfield of Al Bateen that was built in the 1960s. The new airport became one of the fastest growing airports in the world, from an initial planned capacity of 3.5 million passengers in 1982 to 12 million today, with expansion continuing.

In 1987, the UAE’s oil reserves reached 200 billion barrels, the second largest in the world behind Saudi Arabia. That same year, while Dubai was establishing itself as a trading hub, the UAE’s gross domestic product, with the help of Abu Dhabi’s oil proceeds, rose to Dh 87 billon from Dh 6.5 billion in 1972.

In the late 1980s, Abu Dhabi began to attract international businesses, starting with the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce. The city began to consider launching commercial and financial free zones after Dubai created its first free zone in Jebel Ali, but took time to plan the move.

In fact, Abu Dhabi’s first industrial free zone didn’t open until 2012, but that didn’t stop multinational companies from setting up shop beforehand. In the meantime, much of the business in Abu Dhabi continued to revolve around oil, a situation that would eventually change.

With the rise of Abu Dhabi, another transformation began, this time in architecture and culture. Until

“The iconic Shaikh Zayed Mosque design was aimed at ‘uniting the world’ by using artisans and materials from many countries.”

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1990, Abu Dhabi was still a small town, with low-rise buildings, apart from a few examples of what observers describe as ‘Arab utopian style’. But during the 1990s a cultural shift toward more modern architecture began.

In 1996, construction began on the massive Shaikh Zayed Mosque. The iconic building’s design was aimed at ‘uniting the world’ by using artisans and materials from not only the UAE, but many other countries, including Italy, Germany, the UK, Greece, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, and China. The construction of the mosque triggered other impressive projects, which are considered by some to be architectural wonders of the world. These include the striking Aldar headquarters building, the glass towers of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the Emirates Palace Hotel and, in recent years, the Yas Island Hotel, Ferrari World, and the Shaikh Zayed Bridge, designed by Zaya Hadid.

Abu Dhabi’s architectural choices showcase a focus on fusing modern design with local culture and art.

Since 2000, Abu Dhabi has become known as the cultural heart of the UAE, with a calendar of annual events that pay homage to the emirate’s past.

Today, Abu Dhabi is seen by many as the more mature brother of Dubai. Its emphasis on cultural consistency and a measured approach to growth and development can be seen in its ambitious 2030 development plan that includes a well-structured diversification away from oil. The UAE’s capital now boasts five free zones, reaching beyond finance and industry to include renewable energy (Masdar) and creativity (Twofour54). The development programme that will include museum branches of the Louvre and the Guggenheim will further highlight the city’s focus on culture.

Abu Dhabi’s amazing evolution over these 42 years points to a future that has tremendous opportunities for a thriving economy and culture, even after the oil dries up.

“With its emphasis on art and culture, Abu Dhabi has always strongly differentiated itself from neighboring Dubai.”

I N T R I G U I N G C U LT U R A L M I X O F OLD AND NEW

With its emphasis on art and culture, Abu Dhabi has always strongly differentiated itself from neighboring Dubai. The biggest step in this direction will be the eagerly awaited Saadiyat Cultural District, deemed a major cultural undertaking of the 21st century. The cultural heritage of Abu Dhabi is firmly rooted in Arab Islamic traditions, and the combination of international influences and a strong commitment to local heritage has created an intriguing mix of new and old in the emirate. The city boasts a number of cultural sites, including the Zayed Centre, the Heritage Theme Park and the Heritage Village, ancient forts, a number of archaeological sites and museums. Most impressive of all is the stunning Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque that combines tradition with architectural influences from all over the world, illustrating the city’s fine mixture of open-mindedness and tradition.

The latest addition to Abu Dhabi’s cultural environment will be Saadiyat Cultural District, currently being built on a natural island five minutes from the city. It already houses Manarat Al Saadiyat, a superbly styled arts and culture center, and the UAE Pavilion, known as one of the most iconic buildings at the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010. The Saadiyat Cultural District aims to be a hub for global culture, attracting local, regional and international visitors with unique exhibitions, permanent collections, productions and performances. Its iconic buildings will represent examples of the finest of 21st century architecture - the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

THE LOUVRE ABU DHABI

The Louvre Abu Dhabi will be the first universal museum in the Arab World translating the spirit of openness and dialogue of cultures. Designed by architect Jean Nouvel, it will display works of historical, cultural and sociological significance from the ancient to the contemporary. In May 2013, the museum saw a major milestone when its dome, with a diameter of 180 meters, weighing more than 7.000 tons, was finished and the entire basement underwent a waterproofing process. In July 2013, the Louvre Abu Dhabi received the Three Pearl Design Rating Certificate for best environmental practices. The museum’s built-up area is approximately 87.000 square meters, with 9.200 square meters of galleries devoted to permanent display, and 2.000 square meters reserved for temporary exhibitions. Completion is planned for 2015.

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Louvre Abu Dhabi / courtesy TDIC Shaikh Zayed Museum Abu Dhabi / courtesy TDIC Guggenheim Abu Dhabi / courtesy TDIC

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02

S H A I K H Z AY E D M U S E U M

The new national museum of the UAE, Shaikh Zayed Museum, will tell the story of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, his unification of the UAE, the history of the region and its cultural connections across the world. The building, designed by architect Norman Foster in the shape of a falcon, is slated to be completed by 2016. It will house permanent gallery displays as well as a dynamic special exhibition program in which visitors can explore the long history, heritage and culture of the UAE and its place in the world. The museum will also feature an education center, a theatre, retail outlets, a cafe, and landscaped gardens. The built-up area spans over 66.000 square meters.

03

GUGGENHEIM ABU DHABI

The third iconic building in phase 1 of the Saadiyat Cultural District will be the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, designed as one of the world’s greatest contemporary art museums. Surrounded almost entirely by water, the building will have spectacular views of the Saadiyat Cultural District and the Arabian Gulf. The museum, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, should be finished by 2017. Currently, reclamation work and placement of 1.400 piles are completed.

The design of the museum recalls the region’s ancient wind-towers in a fitting blend of Arabian tradition and modern design. The entire gallery and exhibition space comprises of 31.000 square meters. A planned second phase of Saadiyat’s development will include a maritime museum and a performing arts center.

The planning body for the development is the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority. ¡

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1984 – what happened?

Writer: Matthijs de Wilde

1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday on the Gregorian calendar.

Paul & Linda McCartney

January 1st Brunei becomes independent of UK.

January 10th First Frames order for a special valve-actuator system.

January 11th American Music Award to Pat Benatar & Michael Jackson.

Apple Macintosh Computer

January 16th

January 27th

Paul & Linda McCartney arrested in Barbados for possession of cannabis.

Michael Jackson burns his scalp during filming for Pepsi commercial.

January 19 th

Francesco Moser breaks hour record time road racing: 50,808 km in an hour.

January 24th Apple shows the Orwellian commercial during the Super Bowl and marks the introduction of the Apple Macintosh computer.

February 1st China & The Netherlands regain diplomatic relations.

February 8th The Winter Olympic Games are held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

March 1st Sting plays his last concert with The Police.

Frames Building

March 10th

April 23rd

May 11th

Stonewashed jeans are introduced.

AIDS-virus is discovered.

Johan Cruijff quits soccer.

March 20th

April 15th

May 14th

CD-ROM invented, a start to gain the widespread acceptance of the audio CD.

English comedian Tommy Cooper suffers a massive heart attack and dies while live on TV.

Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Facebook, is born.

March 22

May 1

Frames is officially founded

by Mathijs & Frank.

Mick Fleetwood (of Fleetwood Mac) files for bankruptcy.

nd

st

Johan Cruijff

May 22nd Tottenham Hotspur wins 13th UEFA Cup at London against Anderlecht.

April 1st

May 8th

May 23rd

Soul singer Marvin Gaye is shot dead by his own father.

USSR boycotts the Olympic games in retaliation for Western Boycott in 1980.

Release of film “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom�.

Olympic Games

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Miles Davis

June 9th

June 25th

August 5th

Celebration of Donald Duck’s 50th birthday at Disneyland.

Prince releases his album Purple Rain; the album sells over 20 million copies.

First marathon for women during Olympic Games in Los Angeles, won by American Joan Benoit, nevertheless focus is on Swiss Gabriela Andersen who finished completely dehydrated.

June 9th Wesley Sneijder, Dutch football player, is born.

June 22nd Virgin Atlantic first flight.

Virgin Atlantic

June 23rd Joseph Luns resigns as Secretary General of NATO.

June 27th KhloĂŠ Kardashian, Celebrity, is born.

July 30th The Olympic Games are held in Los Angeles.

August 4th Soviet submarine reaches a record submergence depth of 1,020 meters.

August 18th Decoy, an album by jazz musician Miles Davis, is launched.

September 2nd Typhoon Ike strikes Philippines leaving over 3,000 fatalities.

September 3rd

November 22nd

December 19th

South Africa adopts constitution.

Scarlet Johansson, Actress, is born.

The United Kingdom and China agree Hong Kong will revert to China in 1997.

September 15th Prince Harry, Royal, is born.

November 28th

December 21st

October 2

Bob Geldof and Band Aid release ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’.

Three cosmonauts return after a record 237 days in orbit.

December 2nd

December 30th

Bhopal gas tragedy, considered the world’s worst industrial disaster in India.

LeBron James, Basketball player, is born.

nd

October 25th

The first megabit chip is made at Bell Labs.

Prince Harry

Katy Perry, Singer, is born.

October 31 st

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi assassinated.

December 10th More than 70 United States banks fail.

Indira Gandhi

Matthijs de Wilde & Frank van Bossum

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From the Dutch Clay to the Desert Sand Writers: Tim Lauret, Denny van Hoof, Bert Egberts

In response to the oil crisis in 1973, the Dutch government developed the Small Field Policy (Kleine Velden Beleid) to ensure the Netherlands would have a guaranteed supply of gas for the coming decades. The policy encouraged operators to focus on developing small gas fields around the country. Although these smaller fields were relatively expensive to exploit, the policy resulted in dozens of gas fields being added to the Dutch gas reserves.

Looking back, it was a crisis that brought about the opportunity.

A worldwide oil crisis, a government policy, and a request from a customer. In 1974, in response to the Middle Eastern oil embargo the year before, the Dutch government adopted the Small Fields Policy to develop the minor oil fields across the Netherlands. One of Frames’ customers, NAM (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij) approached Frames to jointly develop a tailor-made solution to exploit the small fields.

The solution? A design of a skid-mounted integrated wellsite. Over the past five years, this skid has become a common sight on oil fields across the Netherlands, as well as in Spain, Algeria and Saudi Arabia.

Frames’ people worked closely with NAM. They put their know-how to work for a plug-and-play, costeffective solution. The skid-mounted integrated wellsite brought together all the components of a traditional wellsite on a single steel structure, making it possible to test the complete system before dispatching it to the field. This significantly reduced the site installation time. Plus, the skids were mobile, allowing them to be relocated to new fields as the old ones were depleted. The design of the product completely changed the operating and maintenance philosophy at NAM.

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“Keep It Smart and Simple: Together with NAM and other leading industry partners, Frames diverged from the existing paths and ideas.�

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01

Typical example of KiSS skid

A N E W W AY O F W O R K I N G : K I S S

The way Frames worked together with NAM and the other parties was as simple and smart as the end product. The concept gave everyone the chance to diverge from existing processes and ideas, to put their know-how to work. Today, Keep it Smart and Simple, or KiSS, is a way of life at Frames.

Over the years, Frames has used the KiSS skid concept around the world, with spin-offs knows as Fris, Fros, Koss and HuGS, to name a few. It has also been adapted for use on oil wells. With each client, the team develops a tailor-made solution to incorporate flow control and safeguarding technologies, remote controllers and advanced safety systems. And after a decade of successful use in the Netherlands, NAM updated the original design to the KiSS Next Gen to cater to the decline in the small fields’ output.

Yes, it was a crisis that brought the opportunity. By working closely with the clients on smart and simple solutions, putting their know-how to use, Frames has marked results that they could not have imagined during the first discussions. Today, as the gas fields around the world face depletion, the skid-mounted integrated wellsites – as well as the KiSS way of finding solutions – are sure to bring even more success. ¡

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Thank You

EDITOR & PUBLISHER

Model: Loek @ 77 models & Jay

P. 52

Frames

Sweater and hat: Gino Anthonisse

Gas Storage

frames-group.com

Trousers: Dewi Bekker

Marc Dorleijn

DESIGN

Img. Say Cheesy

Bohemia Amsterdam

Styling: Maurice Suyderhoud

P. 57

bohemiaamsterdam.com

Hair/Makeup: Jolanda Denneman

Eat like a Malaysian!

Model: Wilhelm @ FIC Models

Suerd Polderdijk Merel Arnoldussen

P. 10

A True Passion for Nature Photography

Img. MAN UP Styling: Richard Schreefel @ Angelique Hoorn

P. 62

Caroline Piek

Hair/Makeup: Danine Zwets / Aga

Peter Maris

Urbanowicz @ Angelique Hoorn

Eclectic Jazzman Michiel Borstlap

petermaris.com

Modellen: Yoeri @ Alpha Male Model

Kateryna Kyselyova

Management met Sake, Lee met Wout

Yuri Rudnev michielborstlap.com

P. 16

American fast food chains broaden their horizons

P. 34

Running a Micro Roastery at Home

P. 66

Daniel Carter

Paul Velder

The Seven Seas

Silvia Celiberti

sprso.nl

Jacco Mooijer

P. 20

P. 39

P. 72

Leaders are Readers – Four ways to stay ahead of the competition

Water is in Their Genes

Facts & Future

Jeroen Bergman

Rudy Weerheim Ramiro Amorena

Verne Harnish

P. 42

Fiets

P. 74

P. 22

Thomas Manneke

Gadgets

Frank’s Vision

Bart van Heesch

Mconomy

Annemieke Diekman

vanheeschdesign.com

mconomy.nl

P. 46

P. 79

Young International Talent

Living with a physical disability but not without snowboarding

Abu Dhabi: A Story of Evolution

Henri Verhoef

ANP

Media Republic

Marc Dorleijn

P. 27

courtesy TDIC

henriverhoef.com Img. New Pioneer

P. 48

Styling: Tessa de Boer

Dutch Design

P. 84

Hair/Makeup: Jennifer Wijngaard / Jolanda

Hugo Timmermans

1984 - what happened?

Denneman / Xiomara Virdó

optic.nl

Matthijs de Wilde

Contact

Img. Macintosh Classic 2

Img. Prince Harry Trooping the Colour cropped

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Licensed under Creative Commons

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img. Indira Gandhi 1966

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by U.S. News & World Report photographer Warren K. Leffler - This image is available

Img. Johan Cruyff

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wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Feyenoord_tegen_

From the Dutch Clay to the Desert Sand

PEC,_met_afscheid_Johan_Cruyff_;_Johan_

Tim Lauret

Cruyff_op_de_schouders_van_Wijnstekers_

Denny van Hoof

en_Brand.jpg

Bert Egberts

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Img. Olympic Torch Tower of the Los Angeles Coliseum By unknown, U.S. Air Force - http://www. defenseimagery.mil; VIRIN: DDSC-85-08929. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - https:// commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Olympic_Torch_Tower_of_the_Los_Angeles_Coliseum.jpg

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All images are property of their owners.

Istock images: ŠiStock.com/carmel.

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“Even though our systems are all about technology and solutions, it’s the people who make the real difference.”

Jacques Melman, Managing Director, with Frames since 1991

frames-group.com