In the second of our two part series on scaffolding in the Middle East we speak with Frank McCoy, a veteran of the industry who shares his insights on some of the challenges facing scaffolding businesses in the region, particularly when it comes to oil & gas maintenance.
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According to recent research, the global scaffolding market is anticipated to be worth $78.4bn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2018 – 2026[1] and while North America remains the largest market in terms of inventory and demand, the robust oil & gas industry of the Middle East has seen consistent growth thanks to increasing levels of regulation and the requirement for ongoing maintenance. Unfortunately, for many scaffolding businesses, securing major contracts is no mean feat.
“If you’re going to work successfully in the oil & gas market it is essential you understand the requirements of the end user,” says McCoy. “Prequalification can be quite an ominous affair. From my experience there are two primary challenges. The first is to illustrate your resources worldwide. Companies are more likely to qualify if they are able to demonstrate their capacity to be flexible and capable of delivery. This often means having resources in the country of operation, however unless you are a major player it isn’t cost effective to have resources just lying about. Delays have serious cost implications so providing the evidence that you can stick to the schedule is of fundamental importance.
The second challenge is the ongoing development of regulation. Historically, providing a cost-effective solution was a high priority, however today the industry places more emphasis on safety. As an example, I remember when no one in the sector would entertain steel boards; now they are almost mandatory. This being said, like any other part of the construction or engineering sector, price plays a key role in securing a contract. Striking the balance between being cost-effective while protecting your margin is a fine art.
One of the advantages of working with the oil & gas sector is there are rarely delays in payment. On the other hand it is sensible to build a margin in case you’re asked for a discount. Having the right team that fully understands the scope is one of the most valuable assets you can have.”
Having worked with a wide variety of systems throughout his career, McCoy had this to say about DokaScaff UNI: “It’s very fast, safe and accessible, so if I was asked which system I would choose, without a shadow of doubt I’d use DokaScaff UNI. Thanks to its ease of use on site, it can be erected and dismantled in a shorter period of time using a smaller crew. When it comes to the oil & gas sector, it’s worth noting they have the most to gain from a ring lock system as they are typically time sensitive projects and cannot afford to take any longer than necessary.”
“If you’re going to work successfully in the oil & gas market it is essential you understand the requirements of the end user,” says McCoy. “Prequalification can be quite an ominous affair. From my experience there are two primary challenges. The first is to illustrate your resources worldwide. Companies are more likely to qualify if they are able to demonstrate their capacity to be flexible and capable of delivery. This often means having resources in the country of operation, however unless you are a major player it isn’t cost effective to have resources just lying about. Delays have serious cost implications so providing the evidence that you can stick to the schedule is of fundamental importance.
The second challenge is the ongoing development of regulation. Historically, providing a cost-effective solution was a high priority, however today the industry places more emphasis on safety. As an example, I remember when no one in the sector would entertain steel boards; now they are almost mandatory. This being said, like any other part of the construction or engineering sector, price plays a key role in securing a contract. Striking the balance between being cost-effective while protecting your margin is a fine art.
One of the advantages of working with the oil & gas sector is there are rarely delays in payment. On the other hand it is sensible to build a margin in case you’re asked for a discount. Having the right team that fully understands the scope is one of the most valuable assets you can have.”
Having worked with a wide variety of systems throughout his career, McCoy had this to say about DokaScaff UNI: “It’s very fast, safe and accessible, so if I was asked which system I would choose, without a shadow of doubt I’d use DokaScaff UNI. Thanks to its ease of use on site, it can be erected and dismantled in a shorter period of time using a smaller crew. When it comes to the oil & gas sector, it’s worth noting they have the most to gain from a ring lock system as they are typically time sensitive projects and cannot afford to take any longer than necessary.”
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