The six Pioneer Safety Group brands came together in Abu Dhabi at the start of November for the world’s largest energy exhibition and conference, ADIPEC. Exhibiting under the Pioneer Safety Group banner in the UK Pavilion, the group returned to ADIPEC with an even larger portfolio of hazardous area products, solutions and services that help protect people, their investment and our environment, throughout the global oil and gas supply chain.
Lewis Cleary (pictured) from Pyroban’s EX Power Systems team reports on ADIPEC and the latest industry trends for 2025…
It was great to share a stand with other members of the Pioneer Safety Group this year who were exhibiting various explosion proof components and systems. For Pyroban, we were only there in person and to present the brand, as we did not have any product with us.
Our main objective was to meet new and existing customers who are already well aware of Pyroban’s existing product offering and support services. Our focus was to listen and discuss our customers’ goals and be ready to support and align our products to the current and future needs of the market.
We had lots of discussions about the latest engine platforms for which Pyroban already has explosion protection solutions for. It was important to communicate our support for Volvo, JCB, Cummins, Perkins, Cat, Deutz, MTU, DDC and other engines needed for Zone 2 oil and gas applications.
We also talked to a lot of visitors about our ability to convert existing engine assets for ATEX Zone 2 operations. This was interesting to packagers and well service companies with existing engine stock looking to give them a second life.
Engine uptime was also high on the agenda for operating companies, and we were talking to many ADIPEC visitors about how it’s possible to eliminate plate type exhaust flame arrestors from explosion proof diesel engines to reduce downtime and improve productivity. This is possible for new build engines but there is a growing trend for existing assets to be upgraded during refurbishment programmes.
In doing so, manual handling and environmental compliance issues also disappear because you have removed the need to regularly change the heavy flame arrestors and clean with solvents, offshore. The dangers of “Dummy” arrestors are also avoided which is a big concern for many visitors who were attending ADIPEC.
The Pyroban team presented two solutions that eliminate the need for “plate-type” exhaust flame arrestors including a simple component called Ever Clear, or EX-SCS control system which is for more advanced ATEX engine packages.
We also had many conversations about different levels of safety and how Pyroban supports the market in a flexible way, but with integrity and genuine compliance. In the first instance, Pyroban’s ATEX Zone 2 solutions fully comply with European and international legal requirements ensuring they meet the specifications required by oil companies and well service operators.
But for operations that do not require full Zone 2, Pyroban’s flexibility extends to providing customised added safety solutions that feature many of the explosion proof components as seen on Zone 2 equipment. And for an even more basic package, where the operation specifies Rig-safe, Pyroban also has solutions. But it is important to note that these options with a lower level of safety are not suitable for Zone 2 hazardous areas, despite some confusion in the market regarding certification and the requirements.
While we were at ADIPEC, our Ex Power Systems team also had many conversations about “going green” and utilising alternate drivers such as electric motors, gas engines, solar, wind and even hydrogen combustion in oilfield equipment. Well service equipment has traditionally been powered by diesel engines, but Pyroban is already discussing many other forms of power in hazardous areas offshore, including early discussions about hydrogen combustion and other growing trends.
No doubt we have seen a big push to electric and have explosion protection solutions for these applications, but electrification will not be possible in most applications, yet. For example, my discussions at ADIPEC focused on the large power demands in areas with low electric power infrastructure offshore.
It’s my belief that diesel engines will therefore continue to play an important role in the oilfield for many years to come, with a slow introduction of the new power technologies.
Contact Lewis Cleary if you need to discuss explosion protection of emerging technologies in oilfield equipment.
Pyroban is also known for the explosion proof conversion of materials handling equipment which is used both upstream and downstream. There was interest in our full ATEX conversions, but also for gas detection systems used on vehicles to give added safety in refinery applications with high ambient temperatures.
ADIPEC is clearly still the premier oil and gas show and being present with the unity and strength of all the Pioneer Safety Group brands demonstrated our ability to serve the market with a broader offering. The location between Asia, Africa and Europe makes it an ideal meeting point to listen and discuss topics that affect the industry globally, in particular electrification, automation, renewables and other emerging technologies, including hydrogen.
Left to Right:⭕ Rob Double ⭕ Paul Maddern ⭕ Hardy Hopkinson ⭕ Guy K. ⭕ Mark Pemberton ⭕ Laurent Thomassin ⭕ Lewis Cleary
Headquartered in the UK, and with four manufacturing sites across the UK and France, the Pioneer Safety Group is the owner of six leading brands that support hazardous area operations. Pyroban®, Petrel®, Ex-tech Solution®, Pyropress®, EXSolutions® and Ex-tech Signalling® were all featured on the stand.
Many visitors were also interested in electrical projects for hazardous areas. Laurent Thomassin from Ex-tech Solution® (furthest fight above) was on the stand talking about the design and manufacture of explosion proof enclosures, control panels and components, including the population of the Ex enclosures. An example is seen above in the bottom right of the image. Visit www.ex-tech.fr.
The latest explosion proof lighting including high efficiency LEDs for tough oil and gas applications were also on display from UK designer and manufacturer Petrel®. Guy Kamssu, European Business Development Manager, is seen here on the right in front of a display of Petrel explosion proof lights (next to me, Lewis). Visit www.petrel-ex.co.uk.
Explosion proof sounders, beacons, buttons and call points for hazardous areas were also on display, designed and manufactured by Ex-tech Signalling® in the UK. Hardy Hopkinson (pictured) was on the stand discussing Stainless Steel and GRP options with visitors responsible for the design of systems and operations upstream and downstream. Visit ex-techsignalling.com.
Having previously exhibited at ADIPEC on its own, Pyropress® also showed product on the stand. Some of its range of flameproof switches and transmitters could be inspected and held by visitors interested in using instrumentation in their oil and gas projects. Visit www.pyropress.com.
To help operations improve their safety processes and comply with local legislation, hazardous area professionals from consultancy business EXSolutions® were also on the stand. EXSolutions not only helps companies on their journey to compliance, it provides audits, training, inspections, engineering, Ex product development, certification services and more. Visit EXSolutions.
It was a great event with all the Pioneer Safety Group brands coming together showing visitors our one clear purpose of protecting people, their investment and our environment.
Pioneer Safety Group is expecting to return to ADIPEC in 2025.
Visit – https://pioneersafetygroup.com/ or visit each brand website above.