HAVING made its debut in the market over three decades ago with the stunning landmark of King Fahad International Airport in the Eastern Province, Armetal Metal Industries continues to grow its list of prestigious projects – its latest being the spectacular King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre (Kapsarc).

One of the largest manufacturers of architectural metalwork in the Middle East, the Riyadh-based company has a good number of projects in its order book that will keep it busy well beyond mid-2014 in terms of fabrication and installation.
Its specialisation lies in architectural metalwork, using various metals such as stainless steel, brass, bronze, coated steel and other noble metals. Today, Armetal continues to expand in line with the kingdom’s rapid growth, says Fady Boustany, the company’s general manager.

“Successfully executed landmark projects in Saudi Arabia stand as monumental testimonies to Armetal’s reputation in both the government and private sectors. In some projects, Armetal was involved with well-known architectural and engineering firms from as early as the design stage,” he says.

Boustany says that since its foundation, Armetal had a clear strategy and vision to participate in most of the prestigious projects in the country and the rest of the GCC. “Due to the high standards usually applied in such projects, and the advanced architectural designs and concepts, we had the pleasure of participating in some feature items that are considered as pieces of art.”

Its recent successes include the Makkah Clock Royal Tower, Princess Nora University (PNU) and King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (Kaust).

For the Makkah Clock Royal Tower, Armetal supplied stainless steel column cladding, stainless steel and glass partitions and screens under a contract worth SR6.25 million ($1.67 million) from Saudi Binladin Group (SBG).

Armetal’s stainless steel bird’s nest at Kapsarc.

At the PNU, Armetal’s work of art can be seen in its stainless steel handrails, glass balustrades, stainless steel column cladding and wall cladding, and many other decorative special items. The project, for Saudi Oger, was worth SR25.85 million ($6.89 million).

And for Kaust, also for Saudi Oger, Armetal supplied stainless steel wall cladding, mild steel structure bridges, stainless steel handrails, canopies, screens, GKD mesh, floor strips and zinc cladding worth SR27 million ($7.2 million).

Now, having catered to the requirements of Phase One of Kapsarc under a deal worth SR41.25 million ($11 million) from SK Engineering, Armetal’s services have been called for the second phase of this prominent development in the Eastern Province. For Phase Two of Kapsarc, Armetal is supplying aluminium composite cladding in irregular shapes, sections, and curvatures for Drake and Scull International.

For Phase One, Armetal supplied stainless steel cladding, stainless steel canopies, stainless steel/glass handrails, canopies, aluminium coping, aluminium mashrabiyas, a stainless steel ‘bird’s nest’, and many other decorative metal works for 193 villas.

Commenting on its work on Phase One of Kapsarc, Boustany says: “A unique item termed as a stainless steel bird’s nest was designed for the façade of two executive villas in the project. The metalwork adorns the entrance elevation up to the roof, including the sides of the entrance.”

“The material used is stainless steel 316L mirror finish, which is the highest grade in stainless steel. More than 100 tonnes of raw material was used to build this prestigious feature and give it its final shape. The most advanced CNC (computerised numerical control) water jet machine and CNC plasma machine were used to provide the best cutting quality and finishing.

“During the fabrication process, more than 85 skilled labourers split into groups, were assigned the job during its several phases: cutting, assembly, welding, grinding, polishing, and buffing. The job required eight months for fabrication and installation.”

Meanwhile, Armetal is busy with many other ongoing projects as well. It is currently supplying stainless steel cladding, stainless steel handrails and glass balustrades, stainless steel bollards, bronze cladding, and stainless steel skirting for the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) project for SBG.

Other developments in which Armetal is engaged include a Saudi Oger project for the Ministry of Education (MoE), for which it is fabricating stainless steel handrails and glass balustrades; a Saudi Railways passenger station, which involves stainless steel column cladding and canopy, and a special globe for Al Rashid Trading and Contracting Company (RTCC); and a Toyota Lexus showroom project, entailing stainless steel façade cladding, stainless steel handrails and glass balustrades for Hashem Contracting Company.

Despite its robust order book, the company continues to follow up on upcoming mega projects that are still in the design or bidding stage.

Speaking of business, he says many mega projects were completed and handed over in 2012, while many others were launched and are on track for technical submittals, fabrication, and installation. Some of the many projects that have reached the bidding stage are the Ministry of Interior (KAP5) project, Riyadh Metro, King Abdul Aziz International Airport expansion, Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, and others.

“Over the past few years, the number of huge construction projects has been constantly increasing, which is giving all contractors and sub-contractors the opportunity to hone their skills and acquire more jobs. As for Armetal, we have been able to increase our productivity, capacity, equipment, technologies, and turnover year after year to fulfil the requirements of the market,” he comments.

Armetal offers customised architectural metal works for diverse applications from doors and windows to escalator cladding.

He says construction activity in Saudi Arabia is reaching a peak taking into consideration the increasing number and scale of projects in the market. “Year after year, the construction sector is seeing the launch of an increasing number of projects, new foreign designers and construction companies and sub-contractors. All the projects are being implemented to higher quality standards, safety measures, and involve greater complexities.”

With regard to developments within his company, Boustany says Armetal is exerting its utmost efforts to maintain its status as the leader in the market in terms of quality standards, ability to deliver fast-track projects, before and after-sales services, and technical support. “In order to do so, we are constantly upgrading and boosting our skills in terms of acquiring the latest machinery required, advanced tools, increased production area and installation teams, and a comprehensive technical department consisting of numerous skilled engineers.”

He says the board of directors and the top management of Armetal are taking effective decisions to maintain the growth of the company. Towards this end, the company is purchasing a 20,000-sq-m plot of land to set up new facilities, which will include a factory equipped with the latest technologies, a warehouse, and all related facilities; acquiring new machinery to ensure highest quality standards and speed up delivery. Armetal is also exploring new markets and looking at introducing new products.

Armetal was established in 1985 in Riyadh’s Second Industrial City where it has facilities and a warehouse over 15,000 sq m and employs 225 people. The company serves the Saudi Arabia and the GCC markets through its design and fabrication departments in Riyadh, and installation teams located in most of the GCC countries.

“Our teams of engineers, technicians, and workers, spread on the ongoing projects and in the factory, to be able to meet the time and quality constraints of each project and according to Armetal standards,” says Boustany.

Armetal’s field of activity covers a broad range of areas in customised architectural metal works. Its capabilities include design, engineering, fabrication and installation of doors and windows; balustrades and railings; column, wall and escalator cladding; ceilings; shopfronts; skylights; enclosures and kiosks; coated steel and other noble metals; and other specialty items.

“Leaving a trail of successfully completed projects in every city in the GCC region, Armetal is taken as a standard against which all competition is measured,” Boustany says with pride.

The company’s first major stainless steel job, the King Fahd Airport in Dammam, gave it countrywide acclaim and exposure due to the superior execution and finishing quality that characterised its work. That quality eventually became Armetal’s strength and hallmark in the years that followed and consolidated its position as the market leader in architectural metal products, he concludes.