Tuesday, May 6, 2025
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PVC foam sheet plant to be set up in Oman

A new unit to manufacture rigid PVC foam sheets using state-of-the-art sheet extrusion technology is coming up in Sohar Industrial Estate in Oman.

The sheets will be targeted at the building materials industry for manufacture of partitions, among other purposes.

Shamal Plastic Industries Limited (SPIL), which is under formation, is being set up with a production capacity of 4,000 tonnes per year (tpy). The main extrusion plant and technical know-how for the project, which is the first of its kind in the Sultanate, is being supplied by a reputed European company.

Assarain Enterprise and Zubair Group are the major promoters of the RO3 million ($8 million) project. The other promoters include Oman International Development & Investment Company, Mohsin Haider Darwish (MHD) and Oman Arab Bank.

Rigid PVC foam, sometimes referred to as "plastic wood", is an excellent lightweight wood substitute that can be easily worked with conventional carpentry tools and can be sawed, cut, nailed, screwed, drilled or glued, says Assarain Group industry development manager Lancelot D'Souza.

The material also exhibits the following properties that give it a distinct advantage over its competitors:

  • It is light in weight, but tough, therefore very cost-effective and has good impact and flexural strength;

  • Its closed cell structure ensures minimum absorption of water, making it excellent for water resistant applications such as kitchen cabinets, bathroom doors, etc;

  • It is fire retardant and self-extinguishing;

  • It is resistant to most chemicals, dilute acids and alkalis. It does not corrode or rot and is not prone to attacks from termites;

  • It has excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics;

  • It can be thermo-formed or vacuum formed;

  • It is available in a variety of surface-finishes, smooth, glossy, matt or embossed. It can be easily printed upon, veined, grained or laminated to give a wood or marble simulated look.

    The application of the product depends on the innovativeness and imagination of the fabricator, says D'Souza.

    The main application areas are:

  • Building materials - Door and window frames, partitions, ceilings, exhibition stands, model making, interior decoration, etc.

  • Furniture - Kitchen/bathroom cabinets and shelves, garden furniture, office furniture such as table tops, cupboards, notice boards, display panels, and bathrooms fixtures; and

  • Signage - Indoor and outdoor signs, cut-outs, hoardings, display stands, temporary kiosks, exhibition displays, shop fitting and other uses in retail visual imaging.

    Commercial production is scheduled to start next year.

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