LEADING asphalt plant manufacturer Marini continues to participate at The Big 5 in a bid to build on its success in the Middle East and create greater awareness of its products and services in the market.

The company is forecasting $20 million sales in the Middle East next year and $29 million in 2011, thanks to an increase in regional demand for its Ultimap 2700 200 tonnes per hour (tph) asphalt plant, which can provide an advanced dryer and dust collection system in any environment and has become Marini’s flagship product in the region.
The company, part of the French Fayat Group, is a leading producer of asphalt plant and road building equipment, transportable and mobile batch mix asphalt plant, plant for recycling of asphalt paving and plant for the production of cement mixes.
“Marini has been present in the Middle East for almost 40 years. It is one of our most important markets, representing 15 per cent of our global sales, and we expect to further increase our market presence in the next two years,” says Alessandro Camerini, area sales manager.
Commenting on The Big 5 show, he says: “We believe the show is a good window to the Middle East, allowing better visibility among the main contractors and customers.”
This year, the company’s booth within The Big 5 PMV will be manned by senior sales managers who will provide information on Marini products and services and highlight its strength and achievements.
The Italy-based company opened its Fayat Middle East office in Dubai, last year, enabling it to provide plant erection services with local technicians. The Dubai office also enables the company to offer a more efficient after-sales service and faster delivery of spare parts. The firm is now aiming to introduce new products to the Middle Eastern markets in the near future.
 “Marini products are the result of modern technologies and 50 years of experience in this field,” says Camerini. “Reliability, top performances and high quality are the key qualities of these products that account for our success.”
Though the company performed well in the domestic market, its overall sales dropped by 20 per cent compared to last year, due to the financial crisis, according to Camerini.
As part of the company’s growth plans, Marini is planning to start local assembly of products in a couple of years.
Marini’s products have been successfully employed in a number of projects in the region. The company supplied Bahrain Asphalt with a plant that was involved in the construction of the F1 Bahrain International Circuit. Ghantoot Transport and General Contracting Establishment in Abu Dhabi, UAE, purchased three Marini asphalt plants to help build a highway to Saudi Arabia. CCC Qatar bought two asphalt plants – one was engaged in the construction of the New Doha International Airport and the other in the construction of a port. A Marini asphalt plant, owned by Al Jaber, is involved in the construction of the Abu Dhabi airport.
Marini has a workforce of 350, of which 70 are engineers and qualified technicians working in the research and development and technical assistance departments. The company was founded in 1899 in Alfonsine, Italy, where its offices and main production factory are located. It is also present in 142 countries.
Marini will be joined by 15 other companies in the Italian pavilion at the Big 5 PMV including MEP, Neron Pumps, Bellino Drill, CMF Casseforme Italia, Ciemme Components, Cismac Automazioni, Edilsider, IME Technology, Ocmer Grandi Impianti and Centro Estero Delle Camere Di Commercio Del Veneto.
Marini will be present at Stand B34.