March 26, 2012 Engineering In Its Entirety

Volume 15 | Issue 1

Part of Tomé Group, Tomé Engenharia S.A. is among Brasil’s ten leading engineering companies in the mechanical, electrical and construction

The Tomé Group has always focused on professional practices designed to provide engineering services containing key factors such as quality, safety, productivity and planning to major industry players. “Growth is the result of successful contracts and profitable business in an increasingly competitive market,” says Carlos Alberto de Oliveira e Silva, president of Tomé Engenharia S.A.
He sounds modest. After all, the Tomé Group has become a reference in engineering, special transportation services, load lifting and rigging. In recent years, the company consolidated its presence in the industrial engineering services and in the oil and gas sectors. The group reported annual revenue of $390 million in 2010 and forecasts approximately $470 million in 2011 for services rendered in the energy, industry, mining and oil and gas sectors.

Established in 1973 in São Bernardo do Campo, state of São Paulo, the Tomé Group organized itself into six divisions: industrial engineering, oil and gas engineering, industrial rigging, transport services, port facilities and equipment rental. In 2009 company operations were reorganized to increase its competitiveness. Tomé Engenharia S.A. became responsible for all engineering, civil construction, electro-mechanical assembly and erection services in the oil and gas sector, as well as general services to foreign market demands.

FOCUS: PERFECTION
In almost four decades, Tomé has accumulated experience and developed a level of competence that has incorporated new values and processes. Consequently, it is prepared to meet the demands of a constantly changing market.

In this way, Tomé Engenharia qualified itself to carry out engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts. Specifically, it designs the installation, procures the required equipment and materials, builds and assembles the plant – thereby achieving EPC goals.

At the end of 2008, following six years of projects related to the oil and gas industry, Tomé took an important step toward its future by becoming an official supplier to PETROBRAS Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., a major Brazilian oil and gas company listed at 34 in Fortune 500. Ranked among the top 15 selected companies, Tomé is highly qualified to execute EPC contracts for Petrobras.

“We are registered and acknowledged as a services provider for offshore and onshore installations, including refineries,” Oliveira points out. “Our resources include a highly qualified group of skilled technicians and engineers. We also have the necessary equipment for the construction and assembly of offshore maritime platforms.”

Indeed, Tomé has become a company for those seeking complete solutions – or, as Oliveira describes, “one company that offers excellence and competence in all types and sizes of projects.”

Here’s an example: In the undergoing RNEST Refinery project (Refinaria do Nordeste) Tomé is responsible for the entire EPC contract, in which it performs civil works, and the manufacture and erection of 61 storage tanks for Petrobras.

In the electro-mechanical sector, Tomé made its presence strongly felt by engaging in a project for the steel pipe manufacturing company Vallourec & Sumitomo Tubos do Brasil (VSB). The work, centered in Minas Gerais, involved the complete electro-mechanical assembly of the steel mill piping machinery. This project demanded the use of not only the best in equipment and technology but also extremely efficient planning. In this sense, the Primavera P6 software was an important differential, providing weekly schedule updates and detailed time management. “Our successful participation confirms our position as one of the largest engineering companies in the Brazilian steel sector,” Oliveira affirms.

EXCELLENCE: RELENTLESS PURSUIT
The Group obtained its first ISO9001 certificate in 1999. The continuous pursuit of excellence resulted in the ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management and OHSAS 18001:2007 for Health and Safety in the work place, also achieved in 2009. “Our certification in these international standards was renewed in 2011,” says Oliveira. “We keep very clear in mind that such certification must be maintained at each and every cycle of evaluation.”

Excelling in a wide range of services, Tomé maintains an investment program that aims to improve quality of labor and leadership development. Additional in-house training programs introduce all levels of labor to technology and processes, with great importance on the ERP program developed by Oracle/JDEdwards, implemented in 2002 and upgraded to a full web version, the XE, in 2011.

Last year, the company purchased 23 heavy-duty cranes of 600, 750 and 1,200 tons. The investment, Oliveira indicates, is also directed toward implementation of administrative tools that streamline and facilitate operations.

Tomé’s attitude toward investment is not only financial; it reflects its broad array of services and dedication to a complete service. In the execution of key projects, the company places great value on strategic partnerships: with Tecnosonda, Sondotecnica Engenharia, Context Engenharia Fundações and groups such as Thyssen. Similarly, equipment suppliers such as Demag, Liebherr, Scania Vabis and Mercedes Benz do Brasil are some of the trusted names that Tomé counts on. The mutually advantageous agreements have resulted in many successful projects.

WIDE-RANGING FACILITIES
Tomé’s activities are managed from its 28,000-square-meter headquarters in São Bernardo do Campo and its five regional subsidiaries. These subsidiaries are strategically located to attend to the most important markets of the country, as well as to provide accessibility of resources and proximity to clients. Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Fortaleza, Santos and Salvador are strategically important towards developing and maintaining market strength.

In 2010 the Group held a turnover of approximately 4,000 employees per month – individuals that make possible the company’s main services: special transportation of extra-heavy loads, rental of cranes of all types and capacities, other lifting equipment and port machinery, as well as electrical and mechanical construction for the mining, steelworks, energy, industry in general as well as oil and gas sectors.

PROGRESS DEFINED
Components of success include both strategy and perceptive investment. This year, Tomé ranked in the top 10 of construction and mechanical engineering companies (according to O Empreiteiro, a national industry magazine). Rankings result from questionnaires completed by more than 2,500 companies nationwide. Annual revenue criteria qualify the nominees, separated into categories of engineering. “Mechanical and electrical construction, represented by the 20 largest industrial erection companies, shows a 364-percent increase in sales and services,” reveals Oliveira. “The Tomé Group was acknowledged for its participation in port installations, industrial sites, oil and gas installations as well as offshore platforms and refineries – and was also distinguished for exceptional annual revenue.”

Company success is also reflected in its growing client base, which currently includes Petrobras, Vale, Cargill, Suzano Papel e Celulose, Klabin and Arcelor Mittal, to name but a few. “What differentiates us from the competition is that we are part of a group that is focused on the industry in general and can satisfy all of our clients’ requirements,” adds Oliveira.

The RNEST project – located near Recife, in the state of Pernambuco – underscores the company’s versatility. The project demanded 24 independent projects to cater for the specific requirements of the tanks, which demonstrates the extent of Tomé’s expertise and forward-thought approach. “Every stage of execution was carefully thought out including installations such as a water treatment station and system control interfaces,” says Oliveira. “Besides, in this project, our company pioneers deployment of hydraulic jack technology in the construction of the tanks and state-of-the-art thermal insulation techniques.”

He adds: “Approximately 51 kilometers of welding will be carried out by the end of the project, which is equivalent to 81 tons of additional material aggregated to the tanks.”

The high-performance welding process currently in use was developed in partnership with ESAB Brasil, a leader in welding and cutting systems.

Guaranteeing services in the face of high demand, thanks to accessible locations and a fleet of modern equipment, the company is qualified to carry out EPC contracts and is the natural choice of many Brazilian market leaders. It’s engineering the future for its clients and, with record revenue and continued investment, Tomé is engineering for itself an even brighter future.

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