DESPITE the challenges posed by the financial crisis last year, Samir Khalil Abdul Wahab Factory for Prepainted Aluminium Cladding registered a 60 per cent growth in sales rising to SR8 million ($2.1 million), compared to SR5 million ($1.3 million) in 2008.
The company is now driving its business from a new state-of-the-art headquarters, which was completed early this year, to tap the opportunities offered by the massive developments under way in the Saudi construction market.
Samir Khalil Abdul Wahab Factory specialises in the manufacture of sheets made of hot compressed aluminium, which are used in internal and external wall cladding. Its products include aluminium roof sheets, aluminium compressed sheets, fire-resistant aluminium compressed sheets, decorative steel and aluminium sheets.
“We are the first factory in Saudi Arabia to manufacture these products,” says Ammar Jamal Sherif, general accountant.
“Compared to other cladding materials, these products last longer, are more stable, and are available in a diversity of colours. They are also resistant to extreme weather conditions and some types of the sheets are also produced to offer fire-resistance, ensuring complete safety to users,” he claims.
The panels comprise low-density polyethylene clad with aluminium on both sides.
“According to market studies by our experts, the demand for this type of material is about 100 tonnes per month and we have established our production line based on these figures. Our products are manufactured using the latest technology that is employed in the EU countries,” he says.
The company, which was established in 2007, is boosting its range of designs and colours this year, adding an innovative touch to its product-line.
Sherif says the factory is moving on the right track in terms of meeting market requirements and dealing with developments in the sector. “There is a great demand for sheets produced by us,” he says.
As part of key expansion plans, the company hopes to increase its export presence
The financial crisis affected the factory’s activities, especially in terms of building materials, steel and aluminium. Sherif says, “However, we tackled the impact of the crisis by increasing market awareness of our products through advertising campaigns, and through the introduction of new designs on the local market.”
The factory has been involved in several key projects including the supply of aluminum facades for the Ministry of Defence and Aviation; a mall in Tahlia Street; Asqar project in Sulaimaniyah; Hyundai service centre in Sulaimaniyah; a military hospital in Taif; and Aswaq Madain Al Fahd project.
“Among the prominent developments that we have been involved in is Mashfa Hospital on King’s Road, an integrated project that entailed installing 5,000 m of cladding sheets at a cost of SR1.5 million ($400,000). Naif Al Qahtani Contracting Company undertook the installation work,” he says.
