Offshore staff
FARMINGTON HILLS, Michigan – Aramco and the American Concrete Institute (ACI) have launched NEx: a center of excellence for nonmetallic building materials.
Based at ACI world headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan, NEx will focus on accelerating the use of nonmetallic materials and products in construction.
“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,” said Jeffrey W. Coleman, ACI President. “Expanding incorporation of nonmetallic materials and products in the built environment will improve sustainability, contribute to a lower carbon footprint, and enhance the durability and longevity of structures.”
Aramco Senior Vice President of Technical Services, Ahmad Al-Sa’adi, said: “Aramco has been developing and deploying nonmetallic solutions within our own operations for more than 20 years as they offer superior lifecycle cost, efficiency and environmental advantages over their metal alternatives.”
He added: “The potential for using nonmetallic advanced polymetric materials, however, goes way beyond the oil and gas sector and includes the building and construction industries where there is significant potential. That is why this new center of excellence for nonmetallic building materials offers enormous and exciting opportunities.”
This initiative with ACI is part of Aramco’s broader strategy to enter new markets, leveraging its hydrocarbon resources and technology to deliver advanced polymeric materials solutions across industries.
Nonmetallic materials are increasingly being deployed across multiple industries, including oil and gas, construction, automotive, packaging and renewables. They offer several advantages over metallic materials, such as corrosion-resistance, reduced weight, increased durability, lower cost, and improved environmental efficiency.
The center plans to expand its scope to include the use of nonmetallics in other construction materials, such as composite cladding, asphalt and soil. It also looks to draw additional partners from leading academic institutions, industries, technical societies, standard bodies, manufacturers and professionals.
04/05/2021
