AL KIFAH Building Materials (AKBMC), one of the largest companies in the GCC in the field of readymix and building equipment, has embarked on a major five-year growth plan that covers its expansion not only in Saudi Arabia but throughout the Arab world.

The company, which owns the largest manufacturer of mobile, static and portable concrete batching plant, has successfully boosted its market share in the last few years, selling some 50 batching units of various capacities and designs to a number of clients over the past year alone.

The company produces concrete batching plants with a capacities ranging from 50 to 240 cu m per hour.

In response to market requirements, the company also manufactures mobile batching plants that are easy to transport and dismantle. These plants can be installed within 36 hours, enabling their usage in more than one site and helping save time and cost for clients.

AKBMC’s expanding product line recently saw the launch of a washing unit that helps in screening, cleaning and washing aggregate to eliminate dust during transport and produce high quality raw materials, which may otherwise result in poor quality concrete that leads to the deterioration of structures.

“Over the past three decades, we’ve managed to maintain a balance between innovations in the concrete industry and protecting the environment,”  said Rami Adra, marketing manager at AKBMC. “For instance, the company has pioneered environment-friendly products and has devised methods to eliminate harmful emissions from its factories.”

Another step towards environment protection was taken when the company signed an agreement with Al Hasa Chamber of Commerce to sponsor the efforts of its new environmental committee – the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia – for four years.

As sponsors of this important committee, Al Kifah is studying ways to control levels of pollution in its core sectors of concrete production and quarrying (crushers).  This has involved looking at how places like Europe are tackling the problem by using filters to reduce dust emission. 

Some of the company’s other products include air cleaning and water chiller units, concrete mixers, tower concrete batching plants and tower cranes.

Its subsidiary Al Kifah Construction Equipment (KICE) was launched five years ago to market construction equipment in Saudi Arabia. The company has seen its sales increase by 25 per cent last year, despite the global recession and expects a 10 per cent increase in sales this year.

Early this year, KICE entered into a partnership agreement with Fujian Snowman Company to market, sell and support its Snowkey concrete cooling systems in Saudi Arabia.

Snowman’s product portfolio for the construction industry includes a range of flake ice systems, which are used to keep batching and mixing concrete at the optimum temperature, as well as thermal ice storage systems.

According to sales manager Rashad Kreidieh, Snowkey products have been well received in Saudi Arabia as well as in the UAE.

In addition to Fujian Snowman, KICE has the exclusive dealership to market and distribute all kinds of Junjin pumps – mobile or static in lengths from 25 to 63 m – in the Gulf. It also represents the Truemax Company of China, which provides tower cranes, placing booms and static pumps.