LIGHTWEIGHT Construction Company (LCC Siporex), a regular exhibitor at Saudi Build, will be promoting its unique autoclaved aerated lightweight concrete (Siporex) when it joins the show this year.

The Riyadh-based company will highlight the various advantages of the use of Siporex aerated lightweight concrete during the exhibition, such as its exceptional thermal insulation, fast and simple erection, fire and earthquake resistance, durability, cost-competitiveness, among other benefits, according to Dr Kamal Abu Arja, the company’s sales and technical manager.

“Also on display will be the various types of finishes that can be applied to the product and an actual thermal insulation test demonstrating the superiority of Siporex against conventional concrete,” he says.

Siporex is generally used as a load-bearing structural material in one-, two- or three-storey buildings, and is available in the form of lightweight blocks and reinforced precast units for walls, lintels, floor and roof slabs, forming a complete building system with characteristics that make it suitable for use in the extreme climate of the Middle East. It has superior insulation properties against temperature variations, sound penetration and the spread of fire, he adds.

Dr Arja says the company is looking forward to increasing awareness of the advantages of Siporex at the show, and aims to boost the company’s sales in various sectors, in line with its expanding production capacity.

Siporex ... a complete building system.

“At present, the demand for Siporex aerated lightweight concrete products is far higher than the company’s current production capacity. This has prompted the management to propose an expansion involving a third plant that will cater to the increasing market demand,” he points out.

Preparations for the proposed expansion began in the second quarter of this year and this has involved demolition of old structures, clearing of the proposed site, modification of existing plant structures and manpower training.

The third plant, once operational in the coming year, will add a further 200,000 cu m of Siporex elements per year to the company’s overall capacity which currently stands at 300,000 cu m. The expansion plans also include construction of a new three-storey head office and new staff accommodation.

Against the backdrop of rising demand, there has been a constant growth in Siporex sales this year as compared with the previous years. “Our production schedule for this year is already fully booked and we are  struggling to cope with unprecedented demand for structural thermal panels and blocks,” says Dr Arja.

Dr Arja says LCC Siporex has traditionally done well at Saudi Build. At previous shows, numerous guests have visited the company’s stands and shown interest in its products, and inquiries from prospective clients have translated into successful deals for supplying Siporex to their projects, he says.

Encouraged by moves made by government authorities in the kingdom to enforce high standards of thermal insulation in all new building construction, LCC Siporex has now intensified efforts to promote the high thermal insulative properties of Siporex, which has proven itself for the past several decades, according to Dr Arja.

The media has a key role to play in LCC Siporex’s marketing blitz, says Dr Arja, while singling out Gulf Construction for praise, saying that the magazine is an “excellent platform to promote general awareness in all sectors about the exceptional characteristics of our product”.

LCC Siporex has supplied Siporex to numerous projects in the Gulf.

Some of its recent and prominent projects in Saudi Arabia include The Royal Commission’s housing projects in Jubail including a 329-villa development by Azmeel Contracting and a 405-villa complex by Redico; a substation for Princess Nora University  Riyadh by Assad Said Corporation; Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) housing projects at various locations by Al Fawzani; the Qassim power plant by Al Saad General Contracting; and accommodation buildings in Ghallah by the National Prawn Company.

Additionally, Siporex was also supplied to a Shuqaiq housing project by Al Refaie Company, Power Plant Project 10 in Riyadh by Al Mabani, and other projects.

In Qatar, it has supplied to a warehouse and accommodation buildings, four cinema buildings and a shopping complex, all by Al Ali Engineering.

LCC Siporex, originally from Sweden, was established in Saudi Arabia in 1977 and employs a staff of 250. Its head office is in the Second Industrial City, Riyadh, with branches in Jeddah and Al Khobar.

The company will be present at Stand 213-1 at Saudi Build.