QANBAR Dywidag Precast Concrete Company (QDC) is gearing up to tap the huge potential offered by Saudi Arabia’s booming construction market by boosting its marketing infrastructure and upgrading its facilities.

The leading Saudi-based manufacturer and supplier of precast concrete already has three precast factories working in full swing in the kingdom and handling several precast projects that require special features and intricate designs. In addition (through Al Ansari Holding Company), QDC recently launched its fourth factory in Qatar, which has started catering to a number of projects in that buoyant market.

“We are now setting up a new sales office in Jeddah, which is in the final stages of completion, to look after customers in the Western Region,” says Ahmad Sameh, QDC marketing manager.

The company has invested in various upgrades, given its keen interest in technological developments that can enhance the quality of its products. These strategic moves are being made in a bid to meet the demand in a highly promising construction market, where the public sector has significantly increased its spending on developmental projects especially in the housing sector.

“Given the kingdom’s sound economic and financial position, the government is increasing expenditure on many infrastructural and housing projects. Hence, we see very good market prospects ahead,” says Sameh. “Of course, there is tough competition in the market, but QDC’s market share is increasing and secured, considering the quality of its products and its experience in the market.”

He says business for the company has been excellent compared to previous years. “We exceeded our objectives and our output is up on last year in response to increased demand in the private and government sectors.

The precast concrete manufacturing company’s scope of work includes design, manufacture, delivery and installation of precast and prestressed concrete components in accordance to specifications that are based on international standards set by PCI (Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute), ACI (American Concrete Institute) and BS (British Standards). Its research and development division is constantly studying the market and introducing new systems and products to meet current demands.

The company provides a comprehensive range of products, offering basically a one-stop shop for all precast and prestressed concrete requirements, right from standard precast concrete elements, external cladding panels, prestressed hollowcore slabs, double-tee slabs, and precast domes, prestressed long-span girders, full wall frame systems, beam and column frames, boundary walls, and standard products such as paving and interlock tiles, manholes and seating.

QDC has built a sound reputation for quality and competitiveness, completing many prestigious projects for the Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu, Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), King Fahad International Airport, various ministries and the private sector. Its projects have included hospitals, schools, factories, warehouses, showrooms, multi-storey offices, apartment buildings, single and multi-storey car-parks, villas, shopping centres, mosques, boundary walls and pavements.

Khursaniyah Gas Plant ... pipe racks laid.

The company is currently engaged in a number of projects in Saudi Arabia. Among its major projects are the mass housing projects being built across the kingdom including a recent 538-villa development for the Royal Commission of Jubail.

Commenting on the challenges of the development, Sameh says: “The project has special shapes and architectural features, which has required us to supply precast that has been cast in one piece using special rubber moulds in order to produce architectural features.”

Another project that made special demands on the company was the cooling towers for the Jubail Export Refinery package.

The project allows “zero” tolerance and requires special connections between beams and columns to provide moment-resistant action, Sameh comments.

One of Qanbar’s production facilities ... huge capacity.

QDC has its head office in Jubail Industrial City in the Eastern Province and sales offices in Jubail, Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah. It employs over 2,500 people at its factories and various sites.

The company has a production capacity of approximately 500,000 cu m per year from its three factories in Saudi Arabia, two of which are located in Jubail with an output of 220,000 cu m per year and the third in Rabigh with an output of 280,000 cu m per year.

QDC was formed in 1981 as a partnership between one of the leading business groups in the Eastern Province, Al Ansari Holding Company (Abdul Razzak Mohammed Qanbar Al Ansari & Sons), and one of the largest German general contractors and precast concrete manufacturers Dycherhoff & Widmann (Dywidag).

In January 2002, Al Ansari Holding Company acquired the entire share of Dywidag and became the sole owner of QDC. Dywidag continues to provide technical support.