AL KIFAH Building Materials has set up a block factory in the new industrial zone in Hail, Saudi Arabia, in line with the company’s vision to adopt the most advanced and time-efficient technologies.
The 15,000-sq-m factory, which became fully operational this year, is equipped with the latest machinery and equipment from leading German specialists for the production of blocks, floor tiles and borders, said Khalid Al Saleem, executive director of concrete and bricks at Al Kifah Building Materials.
“The company is committed to enhancing its production processes and its ability to meet the growing demand for blocks in the region, which is one of the basic building materials in construction projects and real estate developments,” Al Saleem said.
“The new production line caters to the requirements of the Northern Province and beyond and has been designed specifically to meet the needs of its target customers, namely contractors in the construction sector,” he adds.
The production capacity of the plant is about 200 cycles per hour, with a capacity to produce 40,000 blocks in one shift. In addition, it produces pavement tiles at an average rate of 2,000 sq m or 1,200 linear m of borders in one shift. The factory operates at least two shifts in a single day.
“The factory’s products have been used by major government institutions, and are compliant with environmental protection standards set by the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The factory is committed to enforcing all quality standards related to block production, and ensures that its products conform to the stipulated standards before delivering them to customers,” Al Saleem said.
The factory is one of the most recent initiatives taken by Al Kifah Building Materials to boost its range of products, enhance product quality and improve customer relations in order to achieve the broader objectives of developing the concrete and blocks industry across the Gulf region, according to Al Saleem.
Al Kifah launched its latest five-year strategic plan early this year, which accords its clients the highest priority, he said. “The company will set up new departments to ensure timely delivery and customer satisfaction,” he said. “We will also strive to provide credit options for customers in addition to issuing simplified invoices showing credit limits through an electronic system.”
This growth plan builds on its successful performance last year and in 2011 and involves adding a large number of new plants this year, in addition to its main factories and sub-plants at project sites.
The company has boosted its market share in various parts of the kingdom. In the Western Province, its Makkah factory has been upgraded with new plant and equipment to cater to major projects such as the Haramain Railway. Al Kifah is providing three concrete plants for the construction of the railway track and passenger terminal.
In the Eastern Province, Al Kifah has supplied a number of plants and mixers to cater to the King Abdulaziz Port expansion in Dammam and the Sadara Chemical Company’s upcoming world-scale integrated chemicals complex in Jubail.
The Central Province is now the focus of its current five-year plan, and the company plans to expand its Riyadh branch and acquire a larger share of the market in the Saudi capital, which is embarking on a large number of major infrastructural and urban development schemes.
“Our goal is not confined to supporting and enhancing current factories with equipment, but extends to providing highly qualified human resources that we believe will result in high quality production,” Al Saleem said.
Commenting on the Al Kifah’s performance last year, Al Saleem said it achieved its production objectives for its concrete and blocks factories despite various hurdles such as the cement shortage that affected the concrete industry during in 2012.
“We managed to deal with the crisis, thanks to our expansion strategies that helped us reduce the impact,” he said.
