JEDDAH: Baker Hughes announced that its new drill bit manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia is fully operational and delivering industry-leading polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits to the Saudi Arabian and Middle East markets. The modern drill bit plant consolidates all the manufacturing processes for PDC bits in Saudi Arabia. At full capacity, the facility, an integral part of the Baker Hughes base in Dhahran, will employ approximately 80 people. "Proximity to markets and customers is critical to ensuring client alignment and fit-for-purpose products," said Art Soucy, vice president of supply chain for Baker Hughes. "Saudi Arabia and the Middle East are key markets for Baker Hughes and, after several years of successfully assembling drill bits in Saudi Arabia, we took the next logical step of manufacturing bits from raw materials. The investment underscores our commitment to diversify our manufacturing footprint to better serve our global client base." Khaled Nouh, president of Middle East operations for Baker Hughes, said "Baker Hughes has provided solutions to clients in the Middle East, and specifically Saudi Arabia, for over 70 years - dating back to the drilling of the famous first discovery well, Dammam #7. We have demonstrated our commitment to the Saudi market, opening our new integrated base last year and now the new drill bit manufacturing plant, which offers further employment opportunities for the Saudi workforce. We welcome this opportunity to be part of Saudi Aramco's continued leadership in developing the oil and gas reserves of Saudi Arabia."
