As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cutting-edge water pumps, the Danish company Grundfos stands at the forefront of water solutions technology. Committed to global sustainability, Grundfos delivers both traditional and intelligent energy-saving pump solutions, complemented by renewable energy-powered pumps. These cater to a diverse range of sectors, from commercial buildings and factories to clean water and sanitation facilities.
Ehab Eshak, Area Sales Director, Commercial Building Services – Egypt, North Africa, and Saudi Arabia, provides a detailed overview of the company’s operations in the kingdom and how they align with KSA’s Vision 2030 objectives.
Can you provide an overview of Grundfos’ journey since its inception and the company’s evolution in Saudi Arabia?
Grundfos opened its first Saudi Arabian company in the year 1986, as a joint venture company with two partners in Jeddah. With the astounding success of our products in the Saudi market, it was decided to expand our business and to have more local focus. Hence in the year 2009 – Grundfos Saudi Arabia Company Limited was brought into existence.
Between March 2018 and September 2020, we facilitated training for over 2,512 engineers in the country, with more than 6,000 engineers benefiting since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our diversified training curriculum ranges from pumping operations to electricity. Moreover, the recent launch of our revamped Saudi website offers a seamless user experience, amalgamating our most popular digital platform, Grundfos Product Centre (GPC), with e-learning modules, ensuring customers have a comprehensive platform for their needs.
Could you elaborate on Grundfos’ significant projects in Saudi Arabia that underscore your commitment to sustainability and efficiency?
Our commitment at Grundfos is deeply anchored in sustainability, aligning seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s vision to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. As a testament to our dedication, Grundfos has been instrumental in several key projects, underlining both our commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 13 and our core value of sustainability.
One of the prominent projects that was awarded to us recently was the King Soliman Park Royal Arts Complex (KSP). Based on the project’s unique requirements, we introduced the Grundfos E-Pumps, globally recognised for its efficiency, reaffirming our staunch commitment to sustainable solutions.
Additionally, we played a pivotal role in the King Abdullah Bin Abdelaziz’s Project (KAP2), which sought to upgrade 44 military and security facilities across the kingdom. With the expansive upgrade of Saudi Arabian security campuses, there was a need for reliable and energy-efficient booster pumps that could handle shifting demands across several zones.
Grundfos Hydro MPC-E booster sets were selected by the project’s main consultant due to their scalability and sustainability. Further on, an energy check underscored the impact of our contribution: a potential annual energy savings of over 123,000 kWh and a reduction of 87 tonnes in CO2 emissions. This not only signified a step towards environmental conservation but also translated to a substantial saving of approximately $10,000 in energy costs annually for a single building.
How does Grundfos in Saudi Arabia tailor its approach when dealing with established clients versus new ones? Does the Saudi operation employ distinct strategies?
Grundfos adheres to six value-driven behaviours, with partnership being a cornerstone. We view all customers as partners, collaborating to craft optimal solutions. To solidify our presence in the Saudi market, we’re increasing our proximity to customers, ensuring top-tier service. Our Commercial Building Services division champions a “consultant’s consultant” approach, imparting valuable insights about pumping systems in commercial buildings, enabling a deeper understanding of our solutions, which can bring in a change from the design phase itself so that projects can enhance efficiency in both energy and water consumption.
Grundfos collaborates closely with Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects
Given Saudi Arabia’s unique market dynamics, how has Grundfos fine-tuned its strategies? Are there specific product lines tailored to the Saudi context?
Recognising Saudi Arabia’s 60Hz market, we’ve developed products that cater specifically to regional technical and efficiency requirements. As the nation sprawls over a vast area and undergoes rapid growth due to Vision 2030, we’ve established four performance units—CBS (Commercial Buildings), DBS (Domestic Buildings), WU (Municipality and Underground Water), and IND (Industrial Sector).
Given Saudi’s terrain, district cooling is prominent in commercial buildings. Grundfos’ product range and expertise perfectly align with this demand, from design support to ensuring optimal system efficiency with the right choice of pumps for any project. In addition, with our extensive global experience, our project team is uniquely positioned to support customers effectively, ensuring top-notch engineering practices, while prioritising the health and safety of our commissioning team.
In the context of Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects, what challenges has Grundfos faced, and how were they tackled?
Many of the gigaprojects involve stakeholders operating from overseas, and Grundfos, being a global layer, allows us to collaborate closely with these international stakeholders. Moreover, our international presence and the centre of excellence team members in critical geographies such as the USA, Singapore, Dubai, and India facilitate smooth project execution. While supply chain challenges persist, our priority is timely project delivery.
What does the future hold for Grundfos Saudi Arabia in terms of business success?
We envision expanding our market footprint by intensifying our investments in Saudi Arabia, getting closer to our customers, and broadening our partner network. Moreover, expanding our service network and ensuring the ready availability of spare parts is vital for our expansion. Continuously upskilling our team with technical expertise is essential to efficiently serve the Saudi market.