A DUBAI-based ductwork manufacturer has developed advanced ducting technologies for the fabrication of pre-insulated panels which “will revolutionise the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry across the Middle East”.

DuctWork Solutions says the introduction of new machines, fabrication systems and further innovations will make it “the international market leader within five years”.
The company’s confidence stems from “the most exhaustive review of the ductwork sector ever undertaken” – a two-year forensic examination of an industry renowned for high wastage, low-tech and marginal profits. The exercise has resulted in a completely new template for producing pre-insulated ductwork – “a roadmap to efficiency, productivity and profitability,” according to the company.
DuctWork Solutions is showcasing its innovative product range at The Big 5 show next month in Dubai before launching its international marketing offensive at the Ashrae (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Conference in the US in January next year.
“The Middle East is the world’s biggest market for pre-insulated ductwork, yet still represents only a fraction of global demand,” says Kevin Sewell, co-director of DuctWork Solutions. “Therefore, a suitable location has now been identified for a Middle East flagship showroom which will demonstrate the full flexibility of DuctWork Solutions to potential customers from around the world.”
Sewell, who has 25 years experience in the fabrication and installation of ductwork, is leading the global initiative.  No stranger to innovation, he was the first contractor in the UK to introduce an automated system to the sector and has routinely developed new products ever since.
Yet despite his own success, Sewell came to the conclusion two years ago that he was part of a declining industry. “I’ve been in this business all my working life and had always been a keen student of the marketplace,” he says.
“It was obvious to me that the global HVAC industry was stagnating. Production lines hadn’t changed in 30 years and those innovations that had been made – like PIR (polyisocyanurate) and phenolic boards – had yet to capture any real share of the global market.
“Meanwhile intense competition, particularly here in the Middle East, had forced prices lower and lower, until today no one is making any real money – and that’s the brutal truth of the matter. The irony of the situation is that ductwork should be a hugely profitable business. Think about it; every single building in this part of the world needs it – from the little villa to the office block to the warehouse. And it’s not only in the Middle East – modern houses in the UK, Europe and elsewhere increasingly have air-conditioning nowadays.
“It became clear to me and my partners that the HVAC industry was ripe for change; that it was time for a completely new way of thinking.
“DuctWork Solutions has its own R&D department, so we spent two years scrutinising every single aspect of the ductwork sector in minute detail. The investment culminated in a template for minimising waste while maximising both efficiency and profit potential. As a result, we have developed a completely new methodology for the fabrication of pre-insulated panel – one that guarantees efficiency, productivity, and most important of all, profitability.
“No more material and time wastage, profits just ebbing away. Our automated systems guarantee identical results every time. It is no exaggeration to say that pre-insulated ductwork is a phenomenal leap forward in terms of technology, cost savings, everything. It’s a revolution in the HVAC industry – and one that offers tremendous opportunities for profit,” Sewell says.