WITH the UAE now enforcing its Green Building code, the RMD Board Division of JRD International says the company offers contractors and decorators a local source of high-quality decorative panels that conform to the code.

In addition, the company’s wall panels have been tested at Thomas Bell-Wright (TBW) for ASTM Method E-84, which is a ‘reaction to fire’ test applicable to interior finish materials in the GCC region. The test is in line with the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice for Interior Wall and Ceiling Finish Materials.

The move comes in line with JRD International’s focus on producing best-in-class materials that offer an unparallelled combination of functionality, aesthetics, sustainability and safety, says Anupam Lunavat, managing director of JRD International.

“Powered by our collaborative research and development initiatives, we believe the best is yet to come,” Lunavat adds.

The UAE-based RMD Board manufactures wall panels that serve as an alternative to the conventional wall decorative materials, thus helping in reducing deforestation and saving the environment.

“At RMD Boards, the ‘Go-Green’ attitude stems from the manufacturing plant where material refuse and carvings are re-used in the making of new boards. The shuttering boards commonly used in the GCC are made of plywood and are re-used for a maximum of five times before being discarded whereas RMD’s shuttering boards could be used 100 times, resulting in lowered building costs and zero addition to landfills due to its recyclable properties – that is, if a project requires 10,000 sheets of plywood, the same work can be completed by using 2,000 sheets of RMD shuttering boards.”

Lunavat says RMD is set to grow with the Dubai Expo 2020 vision of sustainable development and an improved the quality of life for the future.

“With an increase in real estate development, RMD Board stands at the forefront with a distinct competitive advantage, unique features, exotic designs and sustainability,” he says.

Commenting on the company’s wall panels having met ASTM Method E-84 standards, Lunavat says the achievement “crowns our efforts to manufacture innovative wall panels in the UAE, backed by our own in-house research. We are confident that this achievement will boost our reputation as world-class producers of top-quality wall panels, helping pave the way for wood-free panels that will ensure the highest degree of safety and durability.”

Wall coverings ... environment friendly.

“With this rating, RMD wall panels are now cleared for large-scale commercial use. Safety is of utmost importance to us and we give great emphasis on fire safety,” says Sagar Verma, president of RMD Board.

Another benefit of the panels is that they are easy to install, according to Verma. “A typical room of 50 sq m can be decorated in two hours and the site can be handed over faster. They are light in weight and can be pasted directly on the raw wall, thus saving on transportation, labour and installation costs.”

JRD International’s flagship RMD Board plant, spread over a 40,000-sq-m area in Jebel Ali, Dubai, is claimed to be the first of its kind in the world, producing composite polypropylene (PP) boards for diverse applications in interior decoration and construction. The range covers wall panels, wall coverings, shuttering panels, false ceilings, site fencing, marble flooring and anti-skid floorings. The company has also filed two international patents.

The annual production capacity of the Dh450-million ($122.5 million) plant is set to grow to 110,000 tonnes and is a precursor to the company’s global capacity of 400,000 tonnes by the end of 2015 – making it the largest single-site manufacturing plant for extruded rigid composite polypropylene boards in the world, Lunavat claims.

Furthermore, Dh1.5 billion ($408 million) has been committed to realising RMD’s global goal by building seven manufacturing plants with 85 production lines in seven countries within the next three to four years.

The company rolls out more than 300 types of environment-friendly decorative wall panels that will change the way people design their interiors and some aspects of the exteriors, says Lunavat, who sees great potential for its boards in the regional market.

Quoting a report by research firm GRMC, he says the wall panelling market in the GCC was estimated to have been worth $5.57 billion last year up from $4.94 billion in 2010. Of this, the UAE accounts for more than $1.82 billion while Saudi Arabia – the biggest market in the region – represents about $2.01 billion. Together they account for more than 60 per cent of the GCC wall panelling market.

“Our wall coverings and floorings are available in marble, granite and stone finish and this alone creates a niche new market for the company. They are pre-polished and do not create any pollution during cutting and fixing,” he says.

The diverse products from RMD are water-proof, termite resistant, certified fire retardant, highly durable, lightweight and 100 per cent recyclable. The use of PP in these engineered products replaces the use of wood, thus reducing the carbon foot print, he adds.

Currently, RMD exports its products to Africa, CIS, Southeast Asia, the UK, the US and India, among other countries.

JRD International, headquartered in Dubai, is a leader in rigid plastic packaging technology and provides solutions to a wide range of industry sectors including dairy, beverage and poultry products. The company is committed to being a ‘total solutions provider’ for its many and varied customers throughout the world.