SAUDI Arabian Packaging Industries (Sapin), whose products are used by key players in the construction industry, is looking at expanding its range of products in response to the growing demands for packaging across the Middle East.

The Damman-based packaging giant Sapin is known primarily as a leading metal can producer and its products are used by leading paint manufacturers such as Al Jazeera, Akzo Nobel, Berger, Dulux, Jotun, Hempel and PPG among others in addition to specialty chemical firms such as Sika and Construction Material Chemical Industries (CMCI).

In addition to its uses for paints, thinners, cleaning agents, chemicals and insecticides, putties, inks, and lubricating oils, Sapin’s packaging is used for a wide range of foods and beverages and it has more than 170 customers on its list.

Sapin was the first in the Middle East to manufacture aerosol cans and adopt computer-to-plate printing technology and it highlights superior printing quality in its products. One of its achievements was introducing heavy-duty plastic pails in 2011 made from high-impact polypropylene and having the highest compression strength in its class. The company produces them in a range of sizes.

Al Suhaimi ... key investments planned.

While the company has many customers for its metal packaging, it is also responding to markets that are increasingly embracing plastic’s advantages of light weight, potential lower costs and lower denting risks.

“Plastic is becoming increasingly important and we are planning investments and diversification in the plastics business to be ready in line with future market requirements,” says assistant general manager Abdulrahman Al Suhaimi.

Established in Dammam in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province in 1976, Sapin is a pioneer in the Middle East’s can-making industry. Of its four plants, three are in Dammam and one is located in Dubai. Among the Dammam plants, Sapin 1 is dedicated to coil cutting, coating and printing, Sapin 2 is a specialised factory dedicated to the production of food packaging and Sapin 3 has the head office and a factory to manufacture industrial cans, aerosol cans and plastic pails. The Dubai unit, Sapin 4, specialises in producing food packaging.

The UAE plant has Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, reflecting the company’s adherence to environment-friendly principles.

Sapin is capitalising on the growing demand for food packaging in the region and recently commenced production of an innovative two-piece aluminium cheese can in Dammam, said to be the first of its kind globally and developed specifically for Kraft in partnership with leading European packaging manufacturer Mondelez International. “We’re proud of this new product, as it is the result of tremendous research and development,” says general manager Samir Al Zaben, adding that further innovations are on the cards.

A Sapin coating line.

Notwithstanding the appeal of plastics, Sapin believes the allure of metal will not fade away any time soon, thanks to its strength and durability, better printing capabilities and ability to withstand high temperatures. An overwhelming portion of its packaging is sold within the GCC but with greater investments in facilities, the company hopes to create more capacity to facilitate increased sales to markets outside the Gulf. Sales and marketing manager Loay Shawish says Sapin will first seek to meet the growing requirements within the Middle East, while noting that markets on the wider African continent are also generating demand.

Spain plans to upgrade some of its facilities including adding a new high-speed line in the UAE to meet increasing demand, says Shawish, who adds that the company has its eyes on diversifying Sapin UAE’s product range to serve export markets “in the near future”.

Al Suhaimi highlights that Sapin also has a strong focus on corporate social responsibility and is involved in activities to raise breast cancer awareness (Think Pink) and in controlling preventive diseases in co-operation with the Saudi National Guard.

Sapin is part of the Al Suhaimi Holding Company whose interests besides packaging include paint manufacturing, water well drilling services, water pump supply and installation, manufacturing of water booster systems, piling services, real estate, travel and tours, and general trading.