Progressive water piping and plumbing systems and a new drainage product will be on display at the Big 5 by Al Hattab Building Materials Trading of the UAE.

The Dubai-based trader will be displaying plastic pipes and systems from Frankische of Germany, Novatherm of Germany and Begetube of Belgium, which it says offer significant advantages over metal pipes for sanitary applications.

Elaborating on these products, Al Hattab's executive manager Azzam Safieh says: "Frankische manufactures Fripex crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) piping systems and Alpex aluminium multilayer pipes (PEXa), purpose designed for heating and sanitary water applications.

"Begetube is part of the Begemac Group, which specialises in piping systems, and Begetube fittings are used to connect Frankische's Fripex-san sanitary pipe system.

"Novatherm is a manufacturer of polypropylene (PP-R) pipes and fittings that are used in sanitary applications and are the first choice of plumbers in many countries."

Al Hattab Building Materials, which is the regional agent for these companies, enjoys a turnover of $1.7 million a year

"We supply all kinds of water supply systems and products from roof water tank to sanitary fixtures for buildings, villas, hospitals, hotels, industrial plants, and factories, to contractors and clients," he says.

"This is backed by a complete supervision service for installations with a 50-year warranty," he adds.

At the Big 5 show, Al Hattab will also be promoting a new drainage system from Rib Loc, a worldwide manufacturer of plastic pipe systems, which is headquartered in Australia.

"We intend to promote Rib Loc's 150 mm to 3,000 mm-diameter uPVC (unplasticised polyvinylchloride) pipes which are designed for use in storm water, sewerage, drainage and irrigation applications instead of traditional concrete pipes," Safieh says.

Al Hattab, says Safieh, has a good impression of the Big 5, based on its experience as an exhibitor in previous years. "As a result of our participation in these shows, we have entered new markets such as Qatar, Bahrain and Libya," he says.

Business for Al Hattab this year has been up by 30 per cent over 2000, despite a general slowdown in the local market.

"We have been involved with several projects this year, including a Dh600,000 ($163,398) contract to supply the new Grand Hyatt hotel and furnished apartments in Dubai with our systems," he says. The hotel, which is being built by Ssangyong Engineering and Construction, is expected to be ready by April next year."

Safieh feels that the UAE is the biggest construction market at present and that Qatar and Iraq will become significant markets "in the near future".

Al Hattab Building Materials will be at stand 3F141.