Gaussin Middle East, the newly-formed joint venture between Dubai Investments Industries (DII) and France-based Gaussin SA, was formally unveiled at the Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2008 exhibition.

Gaussin is a global leader in the manufacture of industrial trailers and materials handling systems.

At the exhibition, senior Gaussin ME executives announced the company’s plans to set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Dubai.

Work on the new plant, located in Dubai Investments Park (DIP), is expected to begin shortly, with commercial production scheduled to commence in late 2009.

Shukri Al Muhairi, general manager of Dubai Investments Industries said, “Gaussin ME combines Gaussin’s world-leading expertise in manufacturing specialized industrial transport solutions and DII’s intimate knowledge of the regional market and its unique dynamics.”

'With the renewed focus on industrial development throughout the region and given the growing number of global industrial leaders establishing or relocating their manufacturing bases to the UAE, we expect Gaussin ME to carve a formidable presence for itself in the regional market within the next few years,' Al Muhairi remarked.

'In fact, we are already in the process of finalizing a few important projects,” said Christophe Gaussin, CEO of Gaussin Manugistique France,' he noted.

Commenting on the decision to formally unveil Gaussin ME at the expo, Sébastien Schneider, director of Gaussin Line of Business said, 'As the flagship maritime event for the region that brings together high-profile participants from around the world, Seatrade represented the perfect launch pad for our formal entry into the regional market.'

'The exhibition gave us an opportunity to present our products and services to a wide regional and international audience, and afforded us a chance to meet with potential customers and industry experts to share views and experiences and understand more closely the challenges and requirements of the Middle East market,' he observed.

At the Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2008, Gaussin ME showcased its range of port and industrial trailers covering four main business lines – transport (ports), energy (offshore platforms), environment and raw materials.

Gaussin ME’s upcoming plant in DIP is the first specialized trailer and industrial vehicle manufacturing unit in the Middle East.

The plant, which will be set up with technical assistance from Gaussin SA, will design and manufacture industrial and port trailers as well as self-propelled industrial vehicles.

Gaussin SA is a listed company in the Paris stock exchange and has been involved in the design and manufacture of handling trailers for over 50 years with a client base stretching across diversified industries including ports and airports, aerospace, automotive, steel, petrochemical and other heavy industries.

The industry arm of Dubai Investments, DII is committed to boosting the industrial development in local and regional markets, and targets both new and established industries.

DII’s portfolio of subsidiaries includes Globalpharma, Emirates Building Systems, Marmum Dairy Farm, Edible Oil Company, Emirates Extruded Polystyrene, United Sales Partners, and Dubai Cranes, Technical Services & Techsource.-TradeArabia News Service