Selmers heading to IPLOCA 2026 in Athens

At the end of September, Rob Schouten will travel to Athens for the 58th IPLOCA Annual Convention. For Selmers, it will be around the tenth time attending, reflecting the importance the convention has come to hold over the years.

From 28 September to 2 October, IPLOCA brings together leading contractors, suppliers and decision-makers from across the international pipeline industry. For Rob, that combination is what makes the convention particularly valuable. “You meet the people who know where the market is heading,” he says.

Alongside the formal programme, there is plenty of time to meet in a more informal setting. The week includes several social and cultural activities, with partners also joining the convention. For Selmers, that setting is an important part of IPLOCA. It gives people the opportunity to get to know each other in a different way and build business relationships that can last for years.

Building relationships takes time

The value of IPLOCA lies in meeting the right people, understanding what is happening in the market and building relationships over time. “You have to make sure people know who you are,” Rob explains. That recognition and trust are particularly important when companies are considering major investments or new solutions. Those relationships are not built during one conversation. It takes time.

Field joint coating on the agenda

This year, one subject Selmers particularly wants to bring up for discussion is onshore field joint blasting and coating. Pipes that are coated in a factory still must be welded together once they are installed. At every joint, the welded area then needs to be prepared and coated again. Selmers already has experience with specialized equipment for this process, particularly for complex offshore situations, and transforms these into modular onshore solutions.

The opportunity is becoming increasingly relevant with the development of new infrastructure for hydrogen and CO2. These are important growth markets for the years ahead. There are large onshore hydrogen networks being developed, while CO₂ storage is also driving developments offshore.

For Selmers, the opportunity lies in treating those field joints in a more standardised, automated, safe and repeatable way, with equipment that is straightforward to operate. “This is an area we really want to develop further,” says Rob. “We are convinced Selmers can add value here.”

Turning conversations into opportunities

Besides the developments around hydrogen and CO₂, Rob also wants to gain a clearer picture of opportunities in other markets. Africa is one region he wants to learn more about during IPLOCA. He will also be looking at how the market in the Middle East is developing, particularly considering the geopolitical tensions in the region.

For Rob, the week in Athens will ultimately be about meeting the right people, exchanging ideas and understanding where the pipeline market is heading. We’ll be following his time at IPLOCA and sharing more from Athens along the way.