NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials is a catalyst for global collaboration on the use of nonmetallic building and construction materials in areas of education, awareness, research, standards development, and adoption.

NEx is being established between the American Concrete Institute, a leading global authority for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, and educational, training, and certification programs, and Aramco Americas, the U.S.-based subsidiary of Aramco, the world leader in integrated energy and chemicals.

Nonmetallic polymer-based materials are increasingly being deployed across multiple industries and offer exciting new possibilities for all types of construction. Incorporation of nonmetallic materials and products in the built environment may contribute to improved sustainability, durability and resilience of structures.

NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials focuses on accelerating the use of nonmetallic materials and products in the building and construction sector. With industries such as oil and gas, construction, automotive, packaging, and renewables beginning to explore nonmetallic materials, NEx will focus on global collaboration to drive education, awareness, research, and technology adoption of nonmetallic building and construction materials.

"Aramco has been developing and deploying nonmetallic solutions within our own operations for more than 20 years as they offer superior lifecycle cost, efficiency and environmental advantages over their metal alternatives. The potential for using nonmetallic advanced polymetric materials however, goes way beyond the oil and gas sector and includes the building and construction industries where there is significant potential. That is why this new Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials offers enormous and exciting opportunities." Ahmad A. Al-Sa'adi, Senior Vice President of Technical Services, Aramco.