The UAE-based Gulf Extrusions Company, one of the largest aluminium product makers in the Gulf, will double its output as a new plant comes on stream next year to cater to growing demand from the industrial and construction sectors, a company executive said.

The firm, part of the Al Ghurair Group, will lift annual output to 100,000 tonnes in the next three to four years, said general manager Modar Al Mekdad.

“The growth is from regional and international demand and in markets where construction and industrial activity is rising,” he told Reuters at an industry conference.

“We export over 30 per cent of our production to Europe, India, Africa, the Middle East and southeast Asia,” he said, adding that more than half of the UAE’s construction market was supplied by Gulf Extrusions.

The firm’s current output at its Dubai plant is 50,000 tonnes. A $225-million plant in Abu Dhabi, close to the Emirates Aluminium smelter, is to be operational by end-2015. The plant is a 50:50 joint venture with Abu Dhabi’s General Holding Company (Senaat).

The Abu Dhabi plant will be funded by equity and project finance from banks. State-owned Senaat is helping to drive Abu Dhabi’s industrial growth as the capital of the United Arab Emirates diversifies its economy away from oil.

By 2020, Gulf Extrusions plans to lift its annual output to at least 125,000 tonnes by opening a plant in Qatar. “With substantial growth capacity added, we are aiming to be in the top 10 aluminium extrusion companies globally by 2020.” -- Reuters




Hepworth PME to launch product for hot/cold water and central heating

DOHA: Hepworth PME (Qatar) said it will launch the new Wavin Hep20 professional polybutylene push-fit plumbing system for hot and cold water and central heating.

Hep2O, which is appropriate for most domestic and commercial plumbing applications: hot and cold water services and heating, will be launched in October, said a company spokesman.

Additionally, flexibility of the Hep2O pipe means it is the ideal solution for renovation, system extensions and situations where space is limited, he said.

Further, it is also ideal material to utilise in conduit pipe-in-pipe installations where the combination of pipe flexibility and straight coil technology provides benefit such as ease of handling compared to other pipe materials, he said.

Moreover, the total installed cost is cheaper due to less wastage in pipe, less use of fittings due to flexibility and length of pipe call, and lower labour hours, he added. -- Reuters