THE attractive Ferrari PVC fabric tensile membrane structures that have become a distinctive feature of the landscape at King Hamad University Hospital are the workmanship of Ahmed Mohamed Amin Alkhaja & Sons Group, which has installed these structures for the staff car-park at the landmark hospital.

The unique-designed shades cover 108 bays – each measuring 8 by 8.3 m and able to accommodate six cars – and have been installed under a contract valued at BD480,000 ($1.8 million). Work on the project started in June 2008 and was completed in November the same year.

“The company was responsible for the fabrication, supply and installation of the shades,” says K Kishore Mathur, its executive director. “With the unique design, the quality control measures taken at each step and the cooperation from the Nass-Burhan JV staff and management, the job was completed to the entire satisfaction of the consultant and main contractor.”

Mathur adds it was a pleasure to be associated with this noble healthcare project, which is an excellent decision by the Bahrain government to set up a sophisticated hospital facility.

Alkhaja is the managing director of the group, which has been in operation since 1964.

Speaking of Bahrain’s construction market, Mathur says it is stable in spite of the recession and will boom in the future, to meet the needs of the country. Business for the company over the past two years has been very good, he says, adding that prospects are excellent for the coming years.

The Ahmed Mohammed Amin Alkhaja & Sons Group of Companies was established in Bahrain in 1964 and employs more than 160 workers. It has in-house workshop facilities and maintains a 4,000-sq-m area well equipped workshop.

The group has executed numerous projects throughout Bahrain, some of which include erection of safety platforms at Alba, installation of a steel structure for a pedestrian bridge at the Arad Protectorate Area in Hidd; a storage shed at Diyar Al Muharraq; a steel structure for the NOC Building at Amwaj Islands; various car-park shades for prestigious clients like EK Kanoo Toyota at Sitra, Tubli and Arad, Alba, Custom affairs at Hidd, Movenpick Hotel, Gulf Industrial Investment Company (GIIC), Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company (Garmco), Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), Bahrain Airport Services, GPZ at National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters, Manama; and a twin building in the Diplomatic Area and other prominent projects at various places; wrought iron works for Gulf hotel, Gudaibiya palace, Project 121, 555 and various other jobs for Royal Court, palaces and VIP clients and various consultants in the Island.

Mathur ... noble project.

Managing director Mohammed Amin Alkhaja said that Ahmed Mohammed Amin Alkhaja & Sons was the first group of companies in steel fabrication to receive ISO certification in 1997 and is now known for timely and high-quality works. The group has upgraded the ISO certification from 9001:2000 to 9001:2008 quality standards and has also introduced EMS14001:2004 to environment management standards in addition to OHSAS 18001: 2007.

The group consists of Al Amin Contracting and Maintenance, specialising in fabrication, painting and erection of fire-rated hinged doors, sliding doors, structural steel buildings, platforms, ducts, roof sheeting and all kinds of mechanical jobs; Al Amin Wrought Iron Factory, producing various types of decorative wrought iron works like gates, grills, balcony, staircases, boundary walls, furniture, structural items and metal products; and Al Amin Shades, which is involved in the fabrication and installation of tensile structures, such as PVC fabric car-park shades, swimming pool shades, entrance canopies, and shades for boats and playgrounds.

With the anticipated surge of activity in Qatar following the country’s successful bid for the Fifa World Cup in 2022, the company is looking at expanding its branches in Qatar.