Valve technicians active in Middle East and North Sea

GAM was responsible for commissioning and testing 30 ball valves of 20-48-in. (51-122 cm) diameter for a project in the UAE.

GAM's start-up capabilities cover installation, commissioning, and supervision. For maintenance, the company provides diagnosis, on-site repair, and valve modification. It can also offer on-site testing and inspection; documentation and record-keeping; and new valves and spare parts. These activities are supported by a technical department in Delebio, north of Milan, where the company's main offices and warehouse are located.

Personnel can be dispatched to provide assistance anywhere at short notice. The company's technicians work according to the API 6DR guideline. Technicians are trained to a range of qualifications, including Basic Safety and Emergency Training Course in accordance with OLF standard (Norway), says the company.

GAM's reference list includes assignments in Europe, mainly offshore in the North Sea, the Middle East, and the Far East. This year it also participated in several projects in North Africa.

Recent jobs include offshore maintenance of 20-in. (51-cm) Class 900 top-entry ball valves in Norway; offshore/onshore maintenance of 36-in. (91-cm) Class 600 metal-seated ball valves for gas service in Qatar; on-site installation of hydraulic actuators on 16-in. (40.6-cm) Class 150 ball valves in China; and the inspection of fully welded 48-in. (1.2-m) ball valves Class 600 in Algeria.

On receiving a call-out, the company will attempt to analyze the cause of failure, whether malfunction in the valve or inappropriate actions by an operator, before dispatching personnel. This means the technician's time on site is dedicated to resolving the problem. GAM says it also can draw up tailor-made programs and procedures for maintenance of valves while ensuring that operatives know the correct way to operate them.