The sound of a welding gun, spark! The smell of metal. This is universal in every welding environment. But the true beauty of each project is in its uniqueness and the team synergy performing the repair.
In the middle of June of 2024, our very own Senior Project Manager & RAW Specialist, Jerome Garot, departed for the project in Oita, Japan.
Japan is a country that strives for quality. It keeps up-to-date with the latest techniques, materials, and technology, and it was an honor to share our expertise and top refractory innovations with ENEOS Oita refinery.
This Turnaround was the largest in the ENEOS history, with the total of 3,500 workers on site.
In Japan, the work is organized in such a way that it is a continuous flow of efficiency with very little downtime, which yields notable results. This project united 20 Crew Members from SILICON Asia in total: 2 RAW Project Managers, 1 RAW Supervisor, 12 RAW Operators, 2 Man Watch, 3 Helpers/Grinders.
The work was completed in the Cyclones of the Third Stage separator and the Internal Riser of the Regen within 62 days. A variety of SpeedSeries anchors were selected for this project: SpeedHex®6, SpeedHex®3, SpeedHex® Mini, SpeedVee®, and the SpeedTab®! A versatile and efficient combination, allowing high-velocity installation with optimal performance in the units.
Removing the carburized steel from the old lining was undoubtedly the most challenging aspect of the task.
“This was the first time we took full responsibility for demolition and surface preparation.
With a large, new team it felt fresh, reminiscent of 2013. Very exhilarating,”
- Jerome Garot
However, after experimenting with various methods, we determined the most effective approach by utilizing the appropriate tools.
“The new practice we invented worked very well, without this method we could not
have finished this job on time,”
- Tomomi Yashima, Director of SILICON Asia.
Being a subject matter expert means being well-versed in quality control techniques and acting as the guardian of the best industry standards and practices.
SILICON’s full-service solution is a result of years of accumulated experience. It has inherited all the interdisciplinary knowledge and reliability and quality of Rapid Arc Welding technology. The industry needs to be adept at troubleshooting the issues that can arise during welding, and that is where a deep understanding of welding processes, materials science, electrical engineering, mechanics, and manufacturing processes is required. No matter how technically complex the issues in your Turnaround are, SILICON experts can quickly come up with creative solutions.
The past decade has been a constant opportunity to learn from our earlier mistakes, particularly how we trained teams across language barriers. Despite the challenges, the team embraced a collaborative mindset, working together seamlessly.
Tomomi Yashima highlighted: “The original project was scheduled for completion by the 20th of July. However, the installation area was increased by 40%, resulting in an extension of the project timeline. Everyone has been away from home for two months, but no one complained and kept a high level of the workmanship. This is a very special project. The team's compassion, willingness, and commitment to maintaining the quality standards of SILICON ASIA have been truly astonishing.”
It was a pleasure to be a part of such a diverse international group - a team with purpose, respect for each other, and a sense of fun.
As Jerome put it: “It doesn't matter what language you speak, success is about intention and teamwork.”
We couldn’t agree more.
At SILICON, our full-service solutions recognize and value cultural differences and adaptabilities as these form the foundation of communication. We are inspired by the impact that RAW technology is making across continents, and how the industry as a whole is advancing alongside us on a global scale.
