REG-Hardide PLC Re: Orders
Released: 03/09/2007
RNS Number:1432D
Hardide PLC
03 September 2007
Press Release 3 September 2007
Hardide plc
("Hardide" or "the Company" or "the Group")
Hardide secures Weatherford as new customer in UK and US
Hardide plc (AIM:HDD), the provider of unique surface engineering technology,
announces that it has secured approved supplier status and subsequent orders
from Weatherford International Ltd., the global oil services group. The orders
will be fulfilled in both Hardide's UK and US manufacturing facilities.
Hardide's unique tungsten carbide-based component, which is proven to
dramatically extend component life and reduce downtime by increasing wear and
corrosion resistance, is being used by Weatherford in a number of downhole
drilling and completion applications in harsh environments around the world.
Hardide has been working with Weatherford for over a year on the engineering and
testing of solutions to improve the performance of these parts and further
applications are currently in test.
In the UK, the Company is supplying Hardide-coated bearing pins for use in
expandable completion systems for Weatherford. Tests have proven that the
Hardide-coated pins last up to four times longer than with the previous coating
process.
Jim Murray-Smith, Chief Executive of Hardide plc said: "We are very pleased to
add Weatherford to our expanding oil and gas customer portfolio in both the UK
and US. It is a prime example of a large service company which is at the
forefront of encouraging new technology and innovation, and is able to work
constructively with companies like Hardide to develop solutions that optimise
its product performance.
"The engineering and testing process is necessarily lengthy for components that
play such a critical role in the exploration and production process. However,
Hardide is at various stages of testing or supply with the top tier of global
oilfield service companies in the UK and US which is testament to the positive
results that the coating is delivering and the ever-growing interest we are
generating.
Hardide offers an unprecedented combination of hardness, toughness, low friction
and chemical resistance when applied to components made from steel, alloy and
other materials. Together with features such as its ability to coat internal
surfaces, it is proven to outperform alternative technologies across many
measures. Oil and gas applications include cylinders, nozzles, pins & bushes,
balls and seats, bores, valve components and drilling tools. Hardide's coating
is widely used around the world in aggressive wear or chemical environments
primarily in the oil and gas, valve, pump and aerospace industries.
Hardide Coatings Limited is a Hardide plc (AIM:HDD) company. The company has
production plants in Bicester, Oxfordshire, UK and in Houston, Texas, USA
- Ends -
For further information:
Hardide plc
Jim Murray Smith, Chief Executive Tel: +44 (0) 1869 353 830
jmurray-smith@hardide.com www.hardide.com
Seymour Pierce
Nicola Marrin Tel: +44 (0) 20 7107 8000
Media enquiries:
Abchurch
Chris Lane / Hugo Jenkins Tel: +44 (0) 20 7398 7700
chris.lane@abchurch-group.com www.abchurch-group.com
Notes to Editors
The Hardide Technology
The Hardide coating process is performed in a Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD)
furnace and is applied to customer supplied components which are heated to 500
degrees depending on the substrate and the application. Once at the desired
temperature, a controlled mixture of gases is pumped into the furnace. In the
furnace chamber, a chemical reaction takes place between the gases which
crystallises on the surface of the components producing a smooth layer of
binder-free tungsten carbide coating with abrasion, erosion and chemical
resistant characteristics. This process enables all parts of the component
including internal surfaces to be coated.
Weatherford International Ltd.
Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE:WFT) is one of the largest global providers
of innovative mechanical solutions, technology and services for the drilling and
production
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
MSCUASBRBBRWOAR