Madinah-based El-Maimani Red Brick and Clay Products has achieved good results this year, due to the extensive and continuous efforts of the marketing team, according to Engineer Kamal Al-Gobali, marketing and projects manager.

''One of these achievements is the award of a new construction project at Yanbu, consisting of 20 residential villas,'' he says. ''The compounds have been divided into two wings each containing 10 villas with support facilities in between including the garden, swimming pools, children's playground and gymnasium. The compound will be completed by the end of 2001.

In addition, work is in progress on another 40 residential villas for Saudi Aramco employees, 20 of which have been completed and handed over.

Al-Gobali continues: ''We are expecting around 150 villas to be built using our load-bearing construction system by the end of 2001. The system has proved to be reliable and very efficient in terms of heat insulation. Further, it saves around 30 per cent of the total cost of the skeleton concrete system. The system's good-quality finish is one of the important criteria, since most of its elements are readymade such as red clay brick for walls, precast concrete ribs and hordi bricks for ceiling.

''An additional benefit is that it saves the time required for completion of projects by 50 per cent, compared to the skeleton concrete system.''

Maimani's technical and marketing group has spent considerable time and effort in developing new products while modifying and enhancing the existing line to gain a competitive edge in terms of quality and cost. One of these new developments is a ceiling brick (hordi) of 13 cm of height, which reduces the slab thickness from 30 cm to 20 cm, Al Gobali points out.

Al-Gobali says the company is grateful for the feedback received from consultants, contractors, investors and individuals which has helped it to improve its products to suit their requirements.

In the meantime, Maimani has also tried to boost its regional presence by exhibiting its products at various exhibitions in Jeddah and Riyadh as well as The Big 5 show in Dubai, UAE.