Excellence in Nonmetallics
Aramco’s advances in nonmetallics work earns recognition
Ahmad A. Al-Sa’adi commended for his leadership in developing and executing a strong nonmetallic strategy.
The American Composite Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the world’s largest composites industry trade group, has given its Pioneer Award to Ahmad A. Al-Sa’adi, Aramco’s senior vice president of Technical Services.
The award, which recognizes Aramco’s innovation in nometallics, commended Al-Sa’adi for his longstanding leadership in developing and executing the company’s nonmetallic strategy of expanding the use of polymer and composite materials in Aramco, Saudi Arabia, and around the world.
“It was our honor to recognize Al-Sa’adi,” said ACMA CEO and president Cindy Squires. “ACMA highly values Aramco’s membership as a whole and looks forward to Aramco’s continued active involvement in the association’s work in relevant global composites initiatives.
The award took note of Aramco’s compelling work in nonmetallics space that provides a path forward as the world looks for new ways to develop material solutions that are safer and more resilient.
“We have developed and deployed nonmetallic solutions within our own operations for more than two decades as they offer superior life cycle cost, efficiency, and environmental advantages,” said Al-Sa’adi.
Nonmetallics offer advantages over metal alternatives, while addressing environmental and sustainability challenges. The potential goes way beyond the oil and gas sector, and this trend is opening new markets for Aramco’s hydrocarbon resources.
— Ahmad A. Al-Sa'adi
Delivering on a comprehensive strategy
Aramco has been implementing a comprehensive nonmetallic strategy, striving to promote the use of nonmetallic materials globally in the oil and gas sector and beyond, including building and construction, packaging, automotive, and renewables sectors.
The company has also supported the establishment of more than 20 manufacturing plants in the Kingdom to make nonmetallic products and dedicated significant resources to conduct research projects for the advancement of nonmetallic solutions in various industrial sectors.
Aramco is delivering on its strategy to play a leading role in accelerating the deployment of nonmetallic materials globally, working to maximize the value of its resources and assets, drive sustainability, localize industry, and reduce its carbon footprint.
While at CAMX, ACMA’s annual conference and trade show, the Aramco team also delivered a presentation about business opportunities in the Kingdom, conducted meetings with major composite manufacturers, and explored the latest technologies showcased by presenters and exhibitors.
The team highlighted the Kingdom’s enormous investment opportunities in nonmetallic, noting Aramco has helped forge partnerships that have led to more than $500 million in investments in nonmetallic projects across Saudi Arabia.
As part of its innovation initiatives and in collaboration with The Welding Institute and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, in 2019 Aramco opened the Nonmetallic Innovation Center based in Cambridge, U.K., to focus on technologies for nonmetallic pipeline solutions. Aramco also recently established the Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials with the American Concrete Institute.