High Technology Petrochemical Joint Stock Company (Hi-Pec), set up in 2004, has spared no effort to introduce newer - better technologies and products to Vietnam, which are specially used to prevent erosion in shipbuilding, oil - gas, electricity, defence, civil and other industries.
Arguably, Hi - Pec is one of the first units in Vietnam to import hydroblasting technology for surface preparation. This is currently the most advanced technology in the world to clean surfaces of ships, drilling platforms, petrochemical plants, gas pipelines, oil depots and food processing factories.
Hydroblasting technology is a clean, environment-friendly technology used in developed countries in the world to replace old methods blasting toxic and costly abrasives like sand and nix. Using water to clean will help reduce air and water pollutions, specially eliminating 98 % of solid wastes in preparing the surface. The hydroblasting technology is safe as it causes no fire or dust; thus, factories, oil depots and gas pipelines, etc. are still in normal operation when the cleaning is underway, unlike other technologies which require the system to stop working for maintenance and repair.
One of major successes of the company is to become an exclusive distributor of Portugal’s Euronavy paints (Euronavy is now part of Sherwin-Williams, USA) in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. This is an epoxy paint which has created a revolution in painting: solvent-free coating, no fire, no toxic, no dew point restriction, tolerance to damp surface and tolerance to adherent iron oxides. Its tolerance is more than 10 times higher than the current standard and the product is used to coat nuclear submarines as it does not need recoating in more than 20 years.
Combining the hydroblasting technology and ultra-durable, safe and easy-to-use Euronavy paint has made a breakthrough in corrosion prevention. Ships, drilling platforms and factories previously had coating guarantee for 2.5 years and needed recoating after years. This was very expensive and time-consuming. With the hydroblasting technology, factories, warehouses and tanks do not need to stop operating at the time of cleaning the surface. Euronavy paint can be painted immediately regardless of the weather. Euronavy coating has a lifespan of 25 years and has a warranty of 20 years, without the need of being recoated.
According to experts, although using the hydroblasting technology to clean the surface and Euronavy paints cause initial investment costs to rise 10 -15 % in comparison with conventional coating, without the need to recoat in 20 years and cleaning, the overall cost is more than 15 times less than the initial costs, let alone the damage from the halt of operation for repairing and replacing corroded parts. After the work is completed, equipment always looks nice and clean.
For example, Au Lac Angel ship previously needed to be recoated in every two years but after it used Euronavy paint, it has not been recoated for five years and the coating will be surely in good condition in at least 10 more years. Ultra high pressure water injection and wet coating help hydropower plants, gas companies, and petrochemical plants to deal with major difficulties in maintenance and repair. Vedan used to repaint its gas pipelines every year but when it used the Euronavy paint three years ago, it has not recoated and does not need to do it in 10 more years as the coating is very good.
Although new technology and products have higher quality and save up more costs in the future, higher initial costs than traditional simple methods discourage users. Besides, under the current bidding mechanism, price is the decisive factor, regardless of technology, lifespan, quality and environmental protection.
Dr Nguyen Thanh Hai, President of Hi-Pec, said: “The first step is the hardest and the best will only survive in the long horizon. We have gone on a long way, but not too long, but our quality and technology have been proven by Au Lac Angel tanker, Au Lac 01 tanker, tanks in depots owned by Petrolimex, Petec and PV Oil, and ships owned by Vinashin and Vinalines, Dai Hung oil rig, water compression pipes of hydroelectric power plants.
Hi-Pec is ready and capable to undertake projects of complexity, durability, high value, absolute safety and environmental sanitation or systems which cannot be stopped. Happily, all customers are satisfied with our technologies and products. This is the great reward for us - a pioneer in introducing newer and better things.
A.D
Vietnamese
