Vallourec is expanding its VAM Connection Technology Center in Aulnoye-Aymeries (North of France) in order to double its testing capacity. The centre currently employs 160 people who work on developing ever more innovative products for the oil and gas industry to meet the increasing complexity of drilling operations. The expansion will require an investment to approximately EUR 50M and will create 95 jobs by 2016.
The project to expand the testing centre in Aulnoye-Aymeries will occur in two stages. Preparation of receiving areas for the new test equipment in existing buildings at the Aulnoye-Aymeries site will begin in the first quarter of 2014 and the first additional testing capacities should be operational by 2015. All VAM development and testing capabilities will then be transferred in 2017 to a new building to be constructed near the existing centre. The new 9,000m² testing facility will be divided into four zones: machining (mechanical metalworking), surface treatment, sample preparation and testing.
In addition to the research and development activities, three production units are also located at the Aulnoye-Aymeries site. The Aulnoye-Aymeries VAM centre is one of Vallourec’s three VAM connection test centres. Vallourec plans the construction of a fourth VAM connection testing centre in Brazil by 2015.
