Residents returning to Bahrain after a week's holiday late last month were surprised to be greeted by huge curved precast panels which have sprouted seemingly overnight at the roundabout at Bahrain International Airport.

These airport markers were erected by Bahrain Precast Concrete Company (BPC) on a fast-track basis in time for the GCC Summit in Bahrain.

ÔÔWe had to complete the order within eight weeks of signing the contract,ÕÕ says general manager Flemming Nielsen. ÔÔThe project involved supply and installation of two sets of three panels, weighing between 14 and 24 tonnes each Ð the largest being 5 m high by 7.5 m wide. The panels have a sandblasted finish and were erected between December 22 and 25. The project involved the closure of one lane on the airport road and a 200-tonne crane was used in the installation.ÕÕ

The precast concrete manufacturer offers a range of products including hollowcore slabs, double-tee slabs, staircases as well as polished precast concrete in a choice of colours. Over the past year, it has been involved on a number of projects - for both the public and private sectors.

Another landmark project which called upon the ISO9001-certified company's services last year was the reconstruction of the Isa Town Gate. The company supplied and erected solid coloured precast concrete panels and beams in a sandblasted finish.

In August, it installed the first two precast pier caps for the rehabilitation works of the Shaikh Hamad Causeway, Bahrain's first Muharraq-Manama crossing. BPC's scope of works includes design, supply, delivery and erection of four pier caps, each with an overall dimension of around 5.5 by 5.4 by 2 m and weighing 25 tonnes. Microsilica concrete with a strength of 68 N per sq mm and reinforcement conforming to BS4449, which has a cathodic protection system was used and the surface has been protected with coal tar epoxy. The remaining two pier caps are to be installed this month (January).

Other projects where BPC's products are installed are:

¥ Insulated sandwich cladding panels and GRC screens for a 14-storey office building in the Diplomatic Area, completed in early 2000.

¥ Double-tee slabs for a 10-storey hotel building being completed in Juffair;

¥ Hollowcore slabs for the Seef Tower, which also sports the company's cladding panels for the entrance arch;

¥ Hollowcore slabs for the Massa Mall in the Seef District;

¥ Staircases for the Bahrain Mall in the Seef District; and

¥ Hollowcore slabs and 250-mm-thick load-bearing sandwich panels and staircases for two four-storey residential apartment blocks in Juffair.

A major ongoing project is the Citibank regional headquarters which is under construction in the Seef District. BPC is supplying sandwich cladding panels, which are coloured and have an acid-washed finish.

The company is currently involved in a project which Nielsen describes as ÔÔvery interesting from an architectural point of view and also challenging.ÕÕ The project is a double-storey villa in Al A'ali.

ÔÔIt is a complex structure with each living area arranged at different levels within the building and all windows recessed at 45 deg angles,ÕÕ Nielsen explains. ÔÔBPC is supplying white sandblasted sandwich panels and is due to complete its work by March.ÕÕ

The precast manufacturer has seen its turnover increase by 10 per cent during 2000. During the past year, it has installed an upgraded mixer plant with a transport system to streamline processes at its factory.

Commenting on the construction sector in Bahrain, he says: ÔÔConstruction activity has been on the upswing and will continue on the same trend for the next few years. A number of projects are now being released.ÕÕ

Turning to the company's plans for the future, Nielsen says: ÔÔWe intend starting up a precast concrete production facility in Qatar to cater to that growing market.ÕÕ

BPC already has a successful sister operation in Dubai known as United Precast Concrete.