A global business in every sense of the word, DORCE plans to build upon all that it has achieved to date. Deputy general manager Dr. Ferzat Mercan discusses how it intends to do so.
The legacy of DORCE as a company can be traced back to 1982, with the founding of parent company, ALÇE Prefabricated Steel Construction Industry and Trade. What began as a small workshop operation based in the Turkish capital of Ankara producing minor steel construction works and steel furniture, quickly evolved to become a key supplier of prefabrication steel structures to some of Turkey’s biggest construction companies.
The foundations on which DORCE was built truly began to take shape prior to its establishment in 1989 when its owners purchased ten acres of land in Saraykoy on which they built its factory. Initially employing 40 people, it was only five years later, in 1994 that the company began to expand internationally. “As of today,” states deputy general manager, Dr. Ferzat Mercan, “we are a holding that simultaneously manages 32 on-going construction sites in four continents. From our 13 branch offices and agencies we manage more than 550 engineers and technical supervisors, and some 3500 workers.”
DORCE provides engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for projects that require high quality solutions to operate in extreme environments. While providing these services to projects that encompass conventional construction and steel structural works, DORCE also conducts all manner of engineering tasks required for civil and electro-mechanical works on site. “In addition to its contracting services, DORCE also owns one of the largest prefabricated, steel structure manufacturing facilities in the world.
“As the many hundreds of projects that have been successfully realised over the years prove,” Mercan continues, “we have always been a company that embraces innovation. Nevertheless, what I would identify as DORCE’s most important characteristic is its ability to work quickly and effectively under even the most difficult of conditions.”
In destinations across the globe DORCE has been able to realise projects under not only intense geographical environments, but also in the face of man-made conditions such as political instability and civil war. “At present,” Mercan states, “we have several large construction projects under way in Iraq. At the same time we continue to take on work in a number of other countries that present complex political and natural conditions, including Sudan, Niger, Nigeria and Mauritania.”
Africa is certainly becoming an ever increasing source of work for DORCE, with the company involved in four on-going EPC and design and build projects. In Mauritania it is carrying out the 8400 person, Tasiast residential village project for mining workers and engineers as well as a pre-engineered process buildings and concrete office building project. Meanwhile in Guinea DORCE has temporary construction camps being established in 23 different locations and in Niger it is undertaking work on the Imouraren Uranium Plant worker camp project. Such projects are executed through its sub companies and branch offices. These assets have helped contribute towards successful operations in the likes of Algeria, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Africa is a very important market for us,” Mercan explains, “primarily due to its vast amount of natural resources such as oil and gas and minerals. Across the continent one will find numerous developing countries that are embarking on large construction projects involving mass housing, industrial facilities and other infrastructure projects. On top of this, many of the world’s leading oil and gas, mining and construction companies operate in these developing nations and that makes Africa a huge market for DORCE.”
At the heart of the company’s African growth strategy is an advanced expansion execution plan that encompasses three core themes, those being local manpower, local procurement and local services. When undertaking projects in Africa, DORCE prefers to use local resources as much as possible. “DORCE has always subscribed to the idea of improving local employment and of utilising local manpower,” Mercan enthuses. “Through the appropriate training we integrate local workers with our own qualified personnel and construction technology.”
Similarly, DORCE prefers to utilise local procurement means and local services when undertaking work in Africa. “When we are awarded a new project,” Mercan says, “basic services that we require to take place at the project site are often provided locally. Such services include the maintenance of tools and the providing of water and electricity, while the personal needs of our employees are sourced from local markets. What our local supply and recruitment business model does is to enable low income individuals to develop themselves and their abilities. This is something we are understandably proud of.”
What it can be equally proud of is the safety excellence award that was presented to DORCE Prefabricated Building and Construction Industry Trade for completing five million man-hours without any accident or incident during its Tasiast project, which in on-going in Mauritania.
During the first week of December the company will be turning some of its focus to London where it will be exhibiting at the Mines and Money Exhibition. “We believe this event to be the most important for the global mining industry,” Mercan says, “providing a huge opportunity for companies to promote their own innovative products and services. We exhibited there in 2011 and found it to be a hugely beneficial experience indeed.”
With the vast majority of the major decision makers in the mining world expected to attend, Mercan clearly has high hopes for this year’s exhibition. “Our fundamental goal over the course of the five days is to highlight the importance of prefabricated and steel building systems to potential mining customers. Furthermore we intend to spread the word about our own ability to operate in extreme conditions and under the strictest of government regulations.”
If you take a tour through DORCE’s production facilities you will find that the world’s leading manufacturing technologies are being used on a daily basis. “It is unquestionable that as technological developments continue, we will follow these and be one of the first parties to put new innovations to use,” Mercan says.
Additionally, the company is aiming to further draw attention to its contracting abilities. Today in Iraq DORCE is involved in a public housing turnkey project that consists of 1416 houses and 11 social facilities. At the same time it has 20 on-going vehicle station projects underway in 18 Iraqi cities and has recently signed a contract with the government of Basra to construct a reinforced concrete university hospital.
“As we continue to grow,” Mercan concludes, “South America and Australia are also becoming two of our newest target markets, with serious steps having been taken to establish a visible presence there. We already have four hospital projects under way in Venezuela and these will be an important reference point as we aim to capture new business opportunities. Between our growth in new markets and the increase in projects we expect to see coming from the mining sector, we feel that the future is very bright for DORCE indeed.”
Written by Will Daynes, research by Will Kirby
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