Element Materials Technology (Element), a global provider of testing, inspection, and certification services for diverse products, materials, and technologies in advanced industrial supply chains, has invested $1mn in a new laboratory in northwestern Saudi Arabia to provide civil and environmental testing for the NEOM project.
According to a statement from Element, the NEOM project will create a futuristic destination and community incorporating smart city technology and entirely fueled by renewable energy.
Element’s NEOM laboratory will support the new technology and development of the planned location. They will principally conduct civil testing, including soils, concrete and other construction materials, to support the major construction and infrastructure works taking place during the project.
It will also be the only laboratory within project boundaries to conduct environmental testing, including seawater and marine sediment; air quality; potable and wastewater analysis; stack, generator and heavy vehicle emissions monitoring; and environmental microbiology.
Element’s purpose-built facility
The company’s proximity to the project limits both the transportation time and cost of sending samples, improving the overall efficiency of the testing program, the company noted.
Matt Hopkinson, executive vice president at Element, said: “Opening the new laboratory in Saudi Arabia is a significant investment in the region as part of our global built environment strategy.
“It will enable us to support the NEOM project with greater efficiency for our customers and will also provide strategic geographical reach to the central and western regions of Saudi Arabia where we expect more projects to take place in future.”
Adrian Pettitt, general manager, KSA at Element, said: “We are proud to work on the NEOM city project and the investment in the new laboratory is in response to the needs of our customers.
He added: “NEOM is the cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision. Our new laboratory positioned at the heart of this prestigious development will present opportunities for us to support NEOM’s team of engineers, consultants, and contractors on upcoming exciting projects such as The Line and Oxagon.”
Global network
Element has a network of accredited environmental testing facilities located throughout the Middle East, the Americas, the UK and Africa.
Their team of engaged experts help customers to meet their environmental obligations through a comprehensive range of laboratory and field-based environmental testing services.
Similarly, Element specialises in testing drinking water, groundwater, surface and wastewater; testing soil, sediments, solid waste and drilling waste; ambient air quality testing; the management of hazardous materials (including asbestos); and stack emissions sampling.
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