A J Mayr - Engineering, fabrication and construction company

"To be an integral part of our customers' successes by delivering
the highest-quality engineered products... on time and on budget."

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A J Mayr builds massive Shell petrochemical units

A J Mayr Engineering has been awarded the contract to build two pre-fabricated petrochemical processing units for Shell Australia, in a $20 million project that has seen employment during construction jump from 60 to 250 skilled workers.

A J Mayr, based at Tomago, near the port of Newcastle in the Hunter Valley of NSW, Australia, won the contract to build the benzine reduction units, which will be shipped by barge to Clyde in Sydney and Geelong in Victoria within months.

Oil companies are upgrading facilities across Australia in line with a Federal Government deadline of January 1, 2006 to supply cleaner petrol and diesel.

"What's exciting for us is that processing units construction in Australia in the past has always been carried out on site," A J Mayr Group General Manager Brett Arnold said.

"The process is extremely complex and shows that right here in Newcastle we have the knowledge and skilled work force to deliver projects of international significance."

Mr Arnold said that once the units, which included 600 tonnes of structural steel and 12km of steel piping, had been constructed in the company's yards, they would be transported in sections by barge.

"I can assure you it is quite a sight in our yards right now, and it will be equally a sight as the barges make their way down the river and through the heads past Nobby's," Mr Arnold said.

The contract isn't the first major project for the local company.

At its Tomago site, A J Mayr has built air separation units and cryogenic storage vessels for delivery across Australia and the region, including an oxygen plant for Lihir Gold in Papua New Guinea. It has also constructed projects for delivery across South East Asia and into Pakistan.

It played a major role in construction of BHP Billiton's domestic and export stackers at Mount Arthur in the Hunter and was involved in the massive Spencer Street railway station project in Melbourne. It has also constructed storage vessels for BOC Gas sites across Australia.

"We're also proud of our work for the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney," Mr Arnold said.

"With the safety and quality issues surrounding the operation of a nuclear reactor, you know you are producing the goods when you are constructing vital equipment for them."

Mr Arnold said the company's workforce was fluid, in line with projects being undertaken.

The company, founded in 1971, is headed by the company's owner Kumar Perumal.

For more information:
Brett Arnold
+61 2 4913 7700

Pre-fabricated petrochemical processing units

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