WIKA

THE FORCE AND FLOW OF BUSINESS IN THE

Oil

GAUGING THE FORCE AND FLOW OF BUSINESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

2023 marks WIKA Middle East’s 25th anniversary at the forefront of developing and supplying instruments in the field of measurement technology for regional industry partners. Backed by its German parent company, the subsidiary remains highly committed and focused on setting the standard in high-precision pressure, temperature, level, force, calibration and flow technology. Report Andy Probert.

WIKA Group Senior Vice President, Tino Reppe

WIKA Middle East has been a mainstay in supplying instruments in the field of measurement technology to leading energy and general industry players in the GCC region since 1998.

Highly calibrated to meeting partners’ needs, the subsidiary firmly reflects and attests to the principles of its global leading, family-owned parent company, the WIKA Group.

“We are a strong and reliable partner in industrial measurement technology, offering the greatest flexibility, the highest delivery performance, and have one of the broadest portfolios of high-pre cision instruments,” affirmed Tino Reppe, Senior Vice President, WIKA Group.

Increasing footprint

The Middle East entity, with a 100-strong team, is centred in Jebel Ali in the UAE, with sales and manufacturing support, and similar operations in Saudi Arabia.

“Around one-quarter of its sales are based on local manufac turing, and performance has grown year-on-year for the past two decades,” confirmed Mr Reppe.

“We also continue to increase our footprint locally in industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical, water and power. Additionally, we are also gearing up service provision to our partners to support their ambitions, reduce their costs, offer quick turnarounds and improve process efficiency.”

WIKA Middle East plays a significant part in the WIKA Group, which globally has a workforce of over 10,200 people across 43 subsidiaries, with manufacturing facilities in Europe, China, India, North America and South America, etc.

With a €1 billion turnover, WIKA is run by the third genera tion of owners. The company is a worldwide leader in pressure, temperature, force and level measurement. WIKA also leads in the fields of flow measurement, calibration, SF6 gas solutions and digitalisation.

WIKA enjoys 75 years of experience and supplies over 50 million quality products, both standard and customer-specific solutions, in batches from one to over 10,000 units. Such a high degree of exper tise and experience has enabled WIKA Middle East to establish the highest reputation among the region’s leading providers.

The WIKA UAE base serves clients such as ADNOC, Kuwait National Petroleum Company, Kuwait Oil Company and Petroleum Development Oman. Additionally, its Saudi manufacturing facility supplies temperature and pressure technology to Saudi Aramco.

Mr Vaishak Mantodi, Sales Manager, MRO/Service, added: “By offering local support and offices, we can bring added value to a partnership and offer exceptional service to our clients. We want to become a real solutions provider, offering comprehensive IIOT solutions in the future.”

Advancing product technology

Today, WIKA has the expertise to develop solutions that are IIoT capable. IIoT capability is achieved either by integrating the Bluetooth module into an existing WIKA product or by combining

an existing product with an output signal with Netris®, the batterypowered GSM telemetry unit. At the customer’s request, such solu tions can interact with cloud-based systems for remote monitoring.

WIKA also has ongoing evaluations of a few cellular gateways for cryogenic gas logistics. In addition to a comprehensive product portfolio and dedicated customer-engineered solutions, WIKA also offers complete IIoT solutions to round off its range of ser vices, explained Mr Shahzad Syed, Business Model Director, MRO/Services.

The company has also introduced new accessories for high-pres sure measurement. It now has a series of connection adapters and couplings in its portfolio that are designed for applications with pressures from 15,000 psi to 60,000 psi.

The products enable safe connection to valves, nipples and fit tings, even in confined installation situations such as in test benches and control cabinets. They are available in all common variants, and the one-piece construction and high-quality materials ensure a high leak tightness and long service life.

WIKA has also introduced a new industrial high-speed pressure controller, the newest device in Mensor’s line-up of precision pres sure controllers that can perform end-of-line three-point verification in ten seconds.

With an innovative regulator, the device has been designed for fast pressure control in industrial environments. It can perform

25% pressure increments in under four seconds with a 0.020% FS accuracy. The device maximises throughput in industries such as oil and gas.

These advances also come at a time of continuing investment in WIKA Middle East’s UAE and Saudi bases to help increase capabili ties and capacities.

Supporting region for the long-term WIKA Middle East has maintained its performance and order levels despite the Covid years. Mr Vaishak explained: “Our perfor mance hasn’t dipped because we have a very strong local presence. “We are regarded as a reliable partner with proven product quality evolved over decades that delivers effective solutions. And good relations with clients are maintained by mutual trust, transparency, good communication, and joint planning.”

Mr Reppe added: “In the future, certainly in the Middle East, WIKA as a manufacturer intends to be a part of the development of hydrogen solutions, and we see gas as a bridge-energy that will help clients immensely.

“While foreseeing many potential opportunities, WIKA intends to be instrumental in the digitalisation trends and product advance ment to support our partners on their decarbonisation journeys.”

He concluded: “WIKA has been entrenched in the Middle East as a partner in helping to bring jobs, add value and support local economies for future growth. With all that in mind, we aim to bring more success to the region. n