Gerab: From a mere supplier to piping partner

Gerab National Enterprises LLC has established itself as a leader in the supply of piping and tubing for the infrastructure, process, power and energy industries. It not only offers the best in quality but believes in superlative value proposition.

During a recent interview with International Metalworking News – Middle East, Mr. R. Venkata Subramanian, Chief Operating Officer at Gerab National Enterprises LLC shared his vision about the growth and prospects of the company, the overall potential of the region and opportunities going ahead.

IMNE: What products and services does Gerab National Enterprises specialise in?

SUBRAMANIAN: Gerab is a principle stockist and supplier of carbon steel and stainless steel pipes in addition to tubes, flanges, fittings, valves, gaskets and stud bolts. Founded in 1977, Gerab has been operating within the region for more than 35 years and has been showcasing its presence through ADIPEC for the last 20 years.

IMNE: How extensive is your network in terms of customers and suppliers?

SUBRAMANIAN: We supply our products to EPC customers, fabricators and end-users based on their project requirements. We work very closely with customers from all segments covering a wide range of end-users such as Saudi Aramco, ADCO, Petroleum Development of Oman, KOC, KNPC, Qatar Petroleum, SABIC, GASCO and ZADCO; EPC’s who are placed both globally and within the GCC such as KBR, Technip, Saipem, Samsung, Hyundai, Petrofac, NPCC, SNC Lavalin, Fluor, Galfar and Linde; Fabricators such as J Ray Mcdermott, Lamprell, Belleli, and Audex. Apart from the above, we also deal with customers in industries such as construction, power and water desalination in multiple locations. We have supplied to more than 45 countries covering more than 1,500 customers worldwide in the past and we see this list ever increasing. Similarly our global supplier base helps us to cater to the ever demanding needs of our customers and we have a strong strategic sourcing relationship with more than 150 suppliers globally.

IMNE: How strong is your presence in the region?

SUBRAMANIAN: Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, we operate a multi-faceted team of over 350 qualified personnel spread across UAE, United States, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, China and India. Our clients are spread across the United States, India, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

We operate on a 70,000 square metre central warehouse facility in Dubai which also houses our main office. Besides this, we run multiple covered and open warehouses in Jebel Ali Free Zone and Saudi Arabia covering a total of 250,000 square meters of warehousing space across all locations. Seventy percent of our main stocks are available in Dubai.

We are currently working on a number of projects such as Saudi Aramco’s YANBU Export Refinery and WASIT lateral lines, upgrade of SAFANIYA flare system in Saudi Arabia, Petroleum Development Oman’s Nimr G and Karim West (Water Flood Project) in Oman, SFFD and Ruwais refinery in Abu Dhabi among various other projects in the GCC.

IMNE: How do you maintain safety and security standards within your operating procedures?

SUBRAMANIAN: We were the first to achieve ISO 9002 QMS quality management certification (1997) and the first to receive accreditation for the revised ISO 9000: 2000, followed by ISO 9001:2008 in 2010. At Gerab, we strive to maintain a risk-free environment. It is also by virtue of the non existence of high-risk related activities perFUTSAL