Oman Cement Company (OCC) and Atlas Copco have released details of how their long-standing strategic relationship helps to maintain the self-reliant nature of the sultanate s cement industry.

OCC employs an array of Atlas Copco equipment to supply air for its plant and instruments, and to aerate its cement silos.

Today, the Omani cement manufacturer uses 16 Atlas Copco GA 160 oil-injected screw compressors; two ZA 6 single-stage, oil-free screw compressors; and a number of ZS 30 rotary screw blowers.

“In order to meet our quality commitment, we need committed business partners who are geared to deliver the highest performance and 24/7 support,” commented Ziad Al Siyabi, maintenance manager at OCC.

“Atlas Copco, over the years, has been able to deliver this through its huge compressed air equipment product portfolio and high-quality service support through its distributor, Bin Salim Enterprises. [This] makes them an automatic choice for our compressed air requirements,” he added.

Since its establishment in 1983, OCC has formed an important part of Oman s drive for self-reliance within its core industries.

In order to maintain this situation, the company requires equipment that is both reliable and efficient.

To this end, OCC has installed the GA 160 units at key locations across its plant. The compressors are able to operate continuously in the toughest conditions and at ambient temperatures of up to 55°C.

With screw technology, stainless steel coolers, and AGMA A4/DIN 5 gears, the ZA 6 units have also proven adept at operating in OCC s dusty cement plant.

Moreover, OCC s ZS 30 blowers, which are used for aeration applications inside the plant s silos, have been shown to reduce energy costs by an average of 30%, compared to conventional methods.

OCC has even constructed a dedicated compressor room with dual-filtration screeds to combat the problem of dust; a measure that has helped to increase reliability and reduce maintenance and energy costs, according to Al Siyabi and his colleagues.

Commenting on the partnership, Tony Van Herbruggen, Atlas Copco s country manager for Oman, said: “With the success obtained so far at OCC, the Atlas Copco oil-free air team is quite confident about supporting OCC and meeting its high expectations with new, innovative solutions that deliver reliability and energy efficiency.”