LAST year was an excellent one for Arabian Building Support and Rehabilitation Company (Absar), which is pressing ahead with plans to expand its business manifold in the specialised field of concrete repair and marine works.

“Last year was an exceptional year for our company as we were able to achieve a respectable growth rate despite the impact of the global financial meltdown,” says Abdullah Hamoud Al Tami, company president.
“We have executed many big projects recently and are now working on several others for leading clients such as Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), Ministry of Defence and Saudi Ports Authority,” he says.
Among the more challenging projects Absar undertook recently was marine works for the construction of a floating platform, a ro-ro berth and repair of jetty areas at the naval bases.
Operating since 1980 as a division of the Bin Tami Development Company, Absar became an independent entity in 1991 under the umbrella of the holding company and has grown from strength to strength. The company specialises in hi-tech concrete repair using cementitious products. It is also equipped with the technical know-how to install effective and durable waterproofing in basements, swimming pools, car-parks and underground water tanks.
“Concrete deterioration is very common in the region due to the high temperature and humidity conditions that adversely affect durability of concrete structures,” says Sabir Imam, an official at Absar.
“The continuous variations in temperature and humidity initiate ongoing cycles of expansion/contraction and hydration/dehydration, which cause damage due to thermal and mechanical stresses,” he says.

According to him, these stresses result in micro-cracking and enhanced permeability, causing a tremendous increase in the diffusion of corrosion agents, such as chloride, oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture towards the steel-concrete interface. The most common reasons for concrete deterioration are corrosion of reinforcement, sulfate attack and salt weathering and cracking due to environmental factors.
Absar, he says, has studied these causes and effects in great detail and devised an ideal solution for corrosion problems in coastal and marine structures. It can implement repair methods following a complete study of the problems, to meet client satisfaction, he adds. It also provides cathodic protection services to prevent concrete corrosion, especially in bridges and tunnels.
Roof insulation is another of Absar’s specialties. The company uses high-quality lightweight foam concrete backed by the latest techniques and qualified technicians to guarantee excellent heat insulation.
It also undertakes high-performance flooring that resists abrasion and corrosion, and offers a slip-resistant surface and multi-coloured quartz flooring. This is especially suitable for car-parks, workshops, sheds, stores, loading bays, ports, and food and beverage, chemical/pharmaceutical and electronics industries. Absar is a pioneer in the manufacture of industrial paints that help protect petrol tanks, steel pipelines, chemical factories and power stations from corrosion.
Staffed by about 1,000 employees, Absar has five branches specialising in waterproofing and concrete repair, and a specialised projects unit handling major projects especially those involving marine works.
Its head office, the specialised projects unit, and a branch office are located in Riyadh, while the other four branches are located in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Al Khobar.
Absar has recently set up a representative office in Qassim, which the company hopes to develop into a full-fledged branch.
With long experience in the field of waterproofing, damp-proofing, heat insulation, concrete repair, flooring, industrial painting, construction, and marine works, Absar continues to focus on research and long-term planning which account for its success over the past decade, according to Al Tami.
The fact that its domestic market has been only marginally affected by the global economic downturn will help ensure that there are ample opportunities for Absar’s growth in the market.
According to Al Tami, the approval of a huge budget for the coming year acts as an incentive to businessmen in Saudi Arabia, which was minimally affected by the global financial meltdown.