We continuously aim for the best solutions for our customers in our global markets. Our international network is our strongest trump card; it enables us to efficiently manage and execute the most complex projects imaginable. Since 2018 we have been directing our global project teams centrally and are even better able to combine the expertise from different teams through our new Global Project Organization.
The tenders for investments involving billions of dollars by large oil, gas, chemical and petrochemical producers are becoming increasingly competitive and demand close coordination and cooperation among all parties, including the End User, the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) Contractor and the Module Yard/Fabricator. Moreover, every customer has its own wishes, specifications and requirements related to the project’s location, local laws and regulations and is faced with its own political, social and market developments. ‘To come up with the best solutions for our customers, we started working on the basis of our Global Project Organization (GPO) in 2018. The GPO brings the expertise in the various project teams together in a structural way and puts together multidisciplinary and customer-specific project teams,’ says Jos van de Werff, Executive Director Global Projects. ‘This way we offer our customers the best of our in-house capabilities and competencies.’
With the new GPO we also focus on early involvement. Working closely together, the project teams share their knowledge about customers, suppliers and markets with each other and put this knowledge back into practice for existing and new customers alike. The constant exchange of knowledge helps us establish good relationships with endcustomers. This way we become involved in new projects at an early stage and contribute ideas at the front-end of an initiative. This is good for the customer and good for us.
One customer for which our global project teams have been intensively working together for some time is ExxonMobil. We supply materials to 22 ExxonMobil sites for maintenance and repairs, as well as for projects. Thanks to the reputation we have acquired and the excellent relationship with ExxonMobil, this customer in 2018 awarded us a new, promising contract. Beginning in 2019, Van Leeuwen Houston, USA, will be supplying miles of pipeline to various locations in North America for this midstream project. The knowledge and experience acquired by our project teams in Zwijndrecht (the Netherlands), Houston and elsewhere will also come in handy over the coming years.
In 2018, Van Leeuwen France in Paris continued supplying the Algerian national oil company Sonatrach. ‘Back in 2013, Van Leeuwen was pre-qualified as an approved supplier of pipes for Sonatrach,’ says Guillaume Piffeteau, Area Export Manager Maghreb, Van Leeuwen France. ‘From 2013, we have already supplied tons of materials. We work closely together with TPCO, one of the largest manufacturers of seamless pipes in the world, for this customer. A project like this can only succeed when you exchange your knowledge and experience with your most expert colleagues and all other involved parties.’ Guillaume expects the Algerian market to continue to grow. ‘To continue to be at the forefront in this market it is important for us to further diversify our product range and to include the supply of components as an additional service. In addition, we are working on expanding our customer base with other Sonatrach partners and joint ventures.’
In 2017, a special project warehouse was set up by Van Leeuwen Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, to optimize the execution of larger international projects. Specific project stocks are maintained in this project warehouse. In addition, the warehouse has the required materials for conducting inspections by the customer and for packaging materials for shipping.
