Located in Dammam, this unit is dedicated to the heat treatment and threading for the full range of VAM® premium connections, with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons. Resulting from the acquisition in 2011 of Saudi Seamless Pipes Factory Co., the finishing plant includes heat treatment and finishing lines, which were upgraded by Vallourec and completed by an additional premium threading line and a coupling shop. Total investment amounted to approximately US$200 million.
 
With its first premium finishing plant in the Middle East, Vallourec is reinforcing its presence in the region where numerous oil and gas projects require high value-added tubular solutions. Vallourec Saudi Arabia will mainly supply Saudi Aramco, the Kingdom’s national oil company, along with other regional operators. The unit is fully qualified to carry out all operations required in the production of VAM premium connections using hollows provided by Vallourec’s pipe mills, including VSB in Brazil.
 
The plant is expected to generate around 200 jobs, bringing the total number of employees working there from 100 in 2011 to 300 by the end of 2014. Today it employs 235 people, of which 25% are Saudi nationals.