A lab in Abu Dhabi is to be part of a new network that will help solve the world’s growing £2 trillion challenge of corrosion.
With governments and industry around the world alarmed at the annual cost of worldwide corrosion, Exova is to create a specialist, £3million Corrosion Centre to help identify and develop future solutions.
The new centre in the UK will be spear headed by renowned corrosion expert Dr Chris Fowler, and will be centred around a new 23,000 sq.ft purpose-designed facility. The new centre will become the hub of a specialist industry network sharing knowledge and best practice, including five other laboratories around the world. Exova’s Abu Dhabi lab will be a key contributor alongside its other laboratories in Singapore, Houston USA, Crema in Itlay and Sandnes in Norway.
The centre is being created to develop solutions to the issue faced by industry sectors worldwide including energy, utilities and construction.
The network will also help develop the next generation of corrosion engineers, while working with customers and industry partners to identify future trends and developments.
Ian El-Mokadem, Exova’s CEO, commented on the investment. He said: “The growing demand for corrosion testing services has been driven by harsher environmental conditions, particularly in relation to the oil and gas industries as the search for energy sees companies pushing the boundaries of exploration and production.
“We will be advancing our corrosion testing and consulting capabilities, providing services that will help our customers ensure the safety and performance of critical assets while also extending operational life.
“By linking our global experts, through this centre of excellence, our customers can access the very best knowledge and capabilities wherever they are in the world. This is one of a long line of strategic investments and the Exova Corrosion Centre will significantly increase our global capacity and enhance our leadership in the corrosion field.”
Exova this year alone has already invested over £13 million developing testing capabilities to support customers worldwide, with more investments planned in the coming years.
