WALES, one of the most dynamic young economies in Europe and significant player in the continuing success of the Middle East, will be represented by a team of Welsh companies to The Big 5.

These companies, which have decades of experience behind them, will bring in an array of products to the market ranging from ground-breaking digital surface technology that helps reduce energy consumption to geotextiles and robust doors.
“As the economy of the Gulf region continues to grow, its communities are expanding and businesses in Wales have far more to offer than direct exports alone. Indeed, there is huge potential for more cooperation between those leading business expansion in the Middle East and companies in Wales,” says Lee Jennings, vice-president Middle East for International Business Wales, the trade and investment arm of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Wales is recognised internationally as being a leading force across the construction, software/IT, new media, semiconductors, automotive, electronics and biotechnology, as well as financial, business and professional service sectors.
“Welsh companies have the know-how and experience to help in many key areas and a new wave of Welsh entrepreneurs is broadening their horizons in the search for more joint ventures and partnerships. We are convinced that they can be of value to the region’s existing business and any future plans,” Jennings says.
Many companies and projects in the Gulf region are already making good use of the skills and experiences of the vibrant Welsh economy. One major Welsh company that has become a significant provider of services for major projects in the Middle East is Hyder Consulting, the award-winning multi-disciplinary, civil engineering consultancy. Today, Hyder is one of the largest businesses from Wales with a firm foothold in the Middle East, with a regional team of more than 1,600 diverse and highly qualified staff operating across the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Hyder’s longstanding service across the Gulf region is extensive, having successfully carried out civil engineering projects for more than 45 years to a wide range of public and private sector clients, and on prestigious developments such as the Burj Dubai and City of Arabia in Dubai, Shams Abu Dhabi on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi; Lusail Development and Education City in Qatar, and Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Bridge and North Manama Causeway in Bahrain.
International Business Wales has a permanent base in Dubai in order to provide on-the-spot advice and support. It has successfully assisted 511 companies with trading activities in the Middle East since 2004.
“We are confident that we can build on this success. Our businesses are taking their knowledge and experience onto the international stage,” Jennings says.
Some of the exhibitors at the Welsh pavilion will include Digital Surface Research, Siderise Insulation, Eurobond Laminates, Recycle Direct, Rhino Doors and Terram.
Digital Surface Research is claimed to be the only provider of a groundbreaking technology – known as SolaVeil – that creates a productive environment by naturally illuminating interiors whilst significantly reducing energy consumption. SolaVeil is an energy efficiency solution that can be simply applied to existing window glazing as a retrofit, or integrated into factory-manufactured sealed units, enabling companies to achieve optimum lighting control within their buildings and gain the benefits of natural daylight.
“While SolaVeil is relatively new to the market, it is already making an impression with developers, facility managers, building and property managers, CEOs, FDs and HR managers who want to reduce their building’s energy consumption and carbon footprint. This innovative technology reduces energy cost-savings by as much as 70 per cent,” says a spokesman for the company.
Another industry leader is Siderise Insulation which claims that its curtain wall product is now the only passive fire protection in the world to have achieved the prestigious Certifire Certificate. The Siderise Group has been providing innovative insulation solutions for fire, thermal and acoustic applications for more than three decades.
“Our Lamaphon, Lamatherm and Lamapro ranges have become trusted leading brands in construction, building services, OEM and many other industries,” says a company official. “With unrivalled technical expertise, advanced manufacturing facilities and extensive product ranges, we are the supplier of choice for many major companies.”
Eurobond Laminates, which has been at the forefront of composite panel design and manufacture since 1981, will promote its extensive range of ceiling and cladding panels.
Eurobond manufactures a range of internal wall and ceiling panels, external wall cladding systems and rainscreen support solutions that can be easily integrated with architectural features, thanks their simple interlocking joints.
“Over 25 years experience has resulted in the development of high-quality stone wool core panel systems providing ‘built in’ fire protection with low environmental impact,” says a spokesman for the company. “All panel systems are tested and approved in line with industry standards to provide excellent fire, acoustic and thermal performance for a variety of building applications.”
Rhino Doors hopes its participation at this year’s Big 5 will open a few doors to some of the prestigious projects in the region. Rhino Engineering has 25 years’ experience of supplying industrial, security; ram-resistant and acoustic range of Rhino doors. These doors are regularly specified for use on government buildings, cash handling centres, the aerospace industry and high profile companies that demand robust, high-quality and above all, reliable doors.
“Our bespoke products manufactured to meet the clients specific needs, from office doors to aircraft hangar applications. Combining initial design, project management and after-sales care, we offer a total package from one provider,” says a spokesman for Rhino Doors.
A veteran in the geosynthetics industry, Terrram focuses on the supply of geotextiles for road and rail construction, specialist geosynthetics for the rail industry, and drainage composites for structural and waste management drainage systems.
Since its inception in the late 1960s as part of ICI Fibres, the Terram range of products has grown to meet the demands of the civil engineering industry. Its production plant is located in the UK and supports sales offices in Germany, France, and Spain and supplies distributors in more than 60 countries. Terram’s product supply is complemented by production from its sister companies globally.
Recycle Direct, which this year marks a decade in the recycling industry, will bring in a range of specialist solutions for its sector. The company was established in January 1999 by two former Lindemann service engineers and has expanded consistently to become the largest independent specialist supplier of service and spares for Lindemann equipment in the world. RD offers huge savings on spare parts for Lindemann equipment against the OEM costs.
Whilst specialising in Lindemann equipment, the company also provides service repair and spares for all leading makes of recycling machinery and has nine fully trained mobile service engineers sited throughout the world for installations, repairs and rapid response to breakdowns on all types of recycling equipment including balers, shears and shredders.
“We supply quality used, rebuilt or refurbished machinery at a fraction of the cost of new, whilst offering full 12 months no quibble warranties on all sales,” says a spokesman for the company.
The company also offers full design and manufacturing options for purpose-built machinery and utilises the most up to date CAD 3D software in the design of balers, conveyors, material recycling facilities (MRFs) and sorting systems.