How and where did the company start and what are its corporate goals for 2014 and beyond. Incorporated in 1927 the company originally supplied explosives to the mining and quarry industries.
With a down turn in our original trading markets in the 1970s, the company changed direction towards the oil & gas industry and at first, by providing a lighting design service for offshore accommodation modules.
As the industry’s requirements changed, Dron & Dickson adapted quickly to the market, offering product supply and maintenance.
In 1993 we were awarded our first hazardous area Ex maintenance & inspection management contract, with AGIP for the Tiffany platform. Today, we are working together with our clients in the United Kingdom, Europe, South America, North Africa, Middle East, CIS stated and Asia.
What does your company do within the oil and gas sector?
Totus Energy, a division of Dron & Dickson is recognised as a leading provider of services for the design, installation, inspection and maintenance of hazardous area electrical equipment carried out by technicians to the IEC60079 standards, as well as the supply of hazardous area electrical equipment for use in both the upstream and the downstream markets.
What is your presence in the Middle East region?
We operate from two locations within the United Arab Emirates; the first, which was opened in May 2012, is based in Dubai and is our corporate office for the region. Our second location which acts as our operational hub and is based in Abu Dhabi trades under the name of Totus Energy LLC (A Division of Dron & Dickson) and a company that was incorporated into the group in October 2012.
The Abu Dhabi facility is the regional base of our engineering, HR, finance and manufacturing teams.
Our large warehouse stocks a full range of hazardous area products such as junction boxes, light fittings, glands, adaptors , reducers, control stations, Exd housing and various consumables from all the leading manufacturers.
Totus Energy is the certified assembler of Weidmuller (Klippon) junction boxes in the United Arab Emirates and with an extensive stock holding of stainless steel and GRP enclosures, our workshops are able to provide customised solutions to exacting customer specifications.
Which country is your biggest growth area and why?
United Arab Emirates without a doubt and because Adnoc is embarking on an ambitious plan to increase its crude oil production from the current 2.7 million barrels of oil per day to 3.5million barrels of oil per day by 2017.
This expansion will have a huge effect on the supply chain because there will be a requirement for locally based services to be carried out by competent and skilled labour, as well as materials for installation and replacement for items no longer considered safe or in working use.
What is your company most excited about in the oil & gas sector?
The continuing stability of the gulf region is crucial to the growth of the markets we are involved in. This stability spreads confidence that is encouraging many of the major players in the industry to invest back into the region. It is clear that with the huge Capex costs of new projects, we are seeing a major programme of upgrades and maintenance on existing plants.
These plants are 20-30 years old and if they are maintained to the international standards that the NOCs expect then they will get an extended life for which they will certainly they and we will benefit from.
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Current Regional Projects
Ex maintenance contract, Ras Laffan
A complex project being carried out on a 25 year old plant that required an inspection of all electrical Ex equipment in accordance with our clients maintenance campaign and submitting results to the client for inclusion in their management system. All inspections are being carried out by our CompEx qualified technicians.
Ex maintenance contract, Ruwais
This project involved the requirement for detailed Ex inspection of pre designated plant electrical Ex equipment in accordance with IEC60079 and Ruwais maintenance procedures before submitting results to the Ruwais team for inclusion in their management system as well as a further analysis to help define a Ex maintenance strategy. All inspections are being carried out by our CompEx qualified technicians.
Ex installation & supply, Abu Dhabi
We were awarded the contract to carry out the design, supply and installation of the electrical and instrumentation packages of 20 Gas turbine packages destined for North Africa. Our engineering team helped the client to achieve costs savings by proposing a new design that reduced the number of man hours required for maintenance as well offering the latest Ex equipment to reduce production costs.
Company Milestones
– The company opened the group’s very first international branch in May 2012 in Dubai, UAE
– Awarded our first hazardous area maintenance contract in September 2012 in the UAE
– Dron & Dickson Acquired Totus Energy LLC in October 2012 in Abu Dhabi
– Signing of our first international JV partnership in January 2013 in Qatar
– First hazardous area maintenance contract awarded in February 2013 in Qatar
– Opening of Totus Energy’s new premises for the Abu Dhabi operational hub, in March 2013
– Granted operational license from Weidmuller for design of Exe Junction boxes, October 2013
– Awarded first contract for the supply and installation of Weidmuller Junction Boxes, Nov 2013
– The company achieved ISO14001:2004 and ISO18001:2007 compliance in December 2013
– Record growth of 25% recorded for the company for the year of 2013 over 2012.
