NEXCEL pushes forward with revamped office and project proposals for nonmetallics

Aramco Asia unveiled the newly renovated and expanded office for the Nonmetallic Excellence and Innovation Center for Building Materials (NEXCEL) with China Building Materials Academy (CBMA) in a joint ceremony in Beijing on July 6. 

Located on CBMA’s campus, the newly revamped office is designed to push forward the joint research and development, learning, knowledge sharing with local partners and application of nonmetallic materials in the building and construction industry. CBMA has been recognized as the “Base for International Science and Technology Cooperation” by the Chinese government and has conducted extensive collaborations with more than 100 countries.

Mushabab M. Al Qahtani, Aramco Asia China country manager, celebrated the newly renovated office, thanking members from NEXCEL, CBMA, and Aramco for their hard work, and he also thanked CBMA president Ma Zhenzhu for his long-standing support.

Zhenzhu pointed to NEXCEL’s focus on innovation and deployment of nonmetallic technology in the building and construction sector. 

NEXCEL has made significant progress in promoting the 2022 Program Guideline, which has won wide social participation. All these efforts are a big leap toward its vision and the building of an open international platform for research and development.
— Ma Zhenzhu

Zhenzhu, on behalf of CBMA, presented the International Friendship Award to Mohammed Al Qahtani, vice president of Aramco Asia Engineering and Technical Services, for his contribution in promoting Aramco-CBMA collaboration. This is the first time that CBMA recognized international collaboration, and looks forward to more achievement. 

Steering Committee Meeting

The Steering Committee, which met for the second time on June 29, was chaired by Aramco Nonmetallic Project Management Office leader Waleed L. Al Otaibi. He also chairs the NEXCEL Steering Committee, which in the most recent meeting reviewed and approved proposals for 11 projects agreed upon in he 2022 Program Guidelines. Review and approval of the Guideline will be at its next meeting.

The 2022 projects focused on the improvement of polymer-based additives in concrete, development of composite materials as an alternative to steel, sponsorship of Ph.D. research projects, and multiple advocacy opportunities.

I hope the kickoff of these projects will be a running start to promote the nonmetallic use in building and construction and fulfill the objective of NEXCEL.
— Waleed L. Al Otaibi

About NEXCEL and CBMA
NEXCEL, an excellence and innovation center to further advance the use of nonmetallic materials in building and construction sector, was jointly set up by Aramco and CMBA early this year. The center promotes the development and application of nonmetallic technologies that offer superior life cycle cost, efficiency and environmental advantages over their metal alternatives. It also helps create a global collaboration platform to boost sustainability, enhance durability and reduce carbon footprint. 

CBMA is the largest comprehensive research institute and technology development center in the fields of nonmetallic materials under the China National Building Materials (CNBM) Group. 

Caption for top photo: Mushabab Al Qahtani (sixth from right), Ma Zhenzhu (eighth from left) and Mohammed Al Qahtani (fourth from right) join participants from both sides after a ceremony that unveiled the newly revamped office for the Nonmetallic Excellence and Innovation Center for Building Materials (NEXCEL) in Beijing on July 6.