Nonmetallic Journey
Leading the nonmetallic charge by setting standards of excellence
Aramco is founding member of NEx: ACI’s Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials.
Aramco is delivering on its strategy to play a leading role in accelerating the deployment of nonmetallic materials globally by becoming a founding member of the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) new center to advance the use of nonmetallic materials and products in the building and construction sector.
Announced during the opening session of its bi-annual Concrete Convention held virtually this week, NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials, was launched with Jeffrey W. Coleman, ACI President, welcoming Aramco and its experience in the area of nonmetallic materials.
“ACI is pleased to have Aramco’s support in leading this dialogue with industry stakeholders around the world,” said Coleman. “The Center’s mission will be to collaborate globally on using nonmetallic materials in the built environment by driving research, education, awareness and technology adoption.”
Based at ACI World Headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan, NEx will leverage ACI’s role as a world-leading authority and resource for the development, dissemination and adoption of consensus-based standards for concrete design, construction and materials.
“Aramco has been developing and deploying nonmetallic solutions within our own operations for more than two decades,” said Ahmad Al-Sa’adi, Aramco senior vice president of Technical Services, who addressed convention delegates by video.
Nonmetallics offer advantages over metal alternatives, while addressing environmental and sustainability challenges. The potential goes way beyond the oil and gas sector.
— Ahmad A. Al-Sa’adi
Already a leader in nonmetallics
Aramco is already a leader in the use of nonmetallic materials in oil and gas facilities to reduce corrosion, and cost of construction and operation. In collaboration with The Welding Institute (TWI) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Aramco opened the Nonmetallic Innovation Centre (NIC) based in Cambridge, U.K., in 2019 to enable wider deployment of nonmetallic materials in the oil and gas industry.
Now, this initiative with ACI advances the company’s broader strategy to enter new markets as it aims to become a global leader in the advancement of polymeric materials solutions across industries such as construction, packaging, renewables and automotive.
ACI has been publishing guides, reports and specifications on nonmetallics in concrete, including fiber-reinforced polymers and fiber reinforced concrete for more than 40 years.
Another chapter in our downstream growth
NEx will serve as a catalyst to accelerate knowledge and standards and expand its scope to include the use of nonmetallics in other construction materials, such as composite cladding, asphalt and soil. The center looks to draw additional partners from leading academic institutions, industries, technical societies, standard bodies, manufacturers and professionals.
“Our founding member, Aramco Americas, aligns with our vision to effectively meet the demands of a changing world by setting standards for the development and adoption of nonmetallic materials in building and construction,” said Coleman.
This development marks another chapter in Aramco’s downstream growth strategy by partnering with ACI to develop global standards, more sustainable materials and new markets for nonmetallic materials.
