BMC Gulf Trading & Contracting of the UAE will be using the Big 5 show to promote new waterproofing systems and liners.

"We participated at last year's Big 5 Show and had a moderate response," says sales and marketing manager Reda Ashkar. "However, our company has gained more recognition in the market since then."

At this year's event, BMC will be promoting and introducing new products into the UAE and Middle East markets, such as innovative waterproofing systems for water tanks and concrete structures as well as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liners for environmental and industrial projects."

"The Big 5 draws good attendance from the GCC and it will help promote our company and ourspecialised activities," he adds.

The Dubai-based BMC Gulf is part of the Issam Kabbani (IKK) Group of Saudi Arabia, which was launched in 1969 and now has a presence throughout the Middle East, covering the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. In the UAE, BMC's other office is located in Abu Dhabi.

BMC Gulf is a trader and contractor that deals in specialised building materials such as HDPE liner membranes, pipes and fittings, plastic welding equipment, CCTV equipment and surveying services, waterproofing and geosynthetic materials.

The company recently took on five new agencies - Vanson Europe (UK), R S Technical Services Inc (RST) (US), Kanal Union (Germany), LINK Pipe (Canada) and Soiltech Organics (UK) - bringing the number it represents to nearly 25 regional and international firms of repute.

German firms represented are Trolining (pipe renovation systems), Vetter (pipe sealing bags and lifting equipment), Widos (plastic and pipe welding technology), Kanal Union (pipeline rehabilitation) and L-Tec (PVC liners).

Its US principals are GSE (lining technology), CETCO (Bentomat clay liners), RST (video pipeline inspection systems and CCTV), Leak Edge (leak detection systems), Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) (drainage systems), and Columbine (plastic welding machines).

From the UK, BMC Gulf represents Plastica (swimming pool technology and equipment), Vanson Europe (water chemicals and treatment) and Soiltech Organics (gas and leachate treatment systems).

Other international names include South Africa's Cascade (pipe clamps), Austria's Agru (concrete protective liners, pipes and electrofusion fittings), Finland's Lindgren (sledge slopes), Australia's Radcrete Pacific (concrete waterproofing), Italy's Tenax (mono and bi-oriented geogrids), Canada's Merex (high-strength geofabncs), and Switzerland's Leister (hot air welding equipment).

Within the region, it also represents Saudi Arabia's Al Latifia Factory for Plastic Mesh and Geogrids and Iran's Rakin Industry Co (drip irrigation technology and systems).

Business at the beginning of this year was very moderate for BMC Gulf but the situation improved by July and is continuing to grow. "We are expecting major projects next year and are planning to expand our activity and staff to meet the growing market," says Ashkar.

He continues: "In our field of business, the market is strong, there are a lot of new projects coming up that require a high level of know-how, experience and expertise, which BMC has gained over the past 20 years in the Middle East. Our goal is to satisfy our clients, by offering them turnkey solutions covering consultation, design services, material supply from stock, installation, quality control and post-sale maintenance services."

"The construction business in the region is not as good as it was in the past, however compared to other countries and regions in this world, the Middle East and GCC remain the most important areas of development, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

"For its part, BMC Gulf will continue to introduce new methods in the field of maintenance and repair of pipelines and reservoirs, enter new markets in the Middle East and expand activity and staff to meet new requirements."

In the UAE, BMC Gulf has been busy with several projects. In Abu Dhabi, Trento Contracting contracted BMC for a HDPE concrete protective liner to a water tank, while Saif Bin Darwish ordered waterproofing for the Tarif Interchange's bridge deck, for which BMC used the Radcon Formula 7 solution.

In Dubai, BMC did waterproofing work on a water streams feature at the new Grand Hyatt hotel which is currently under construction. For this work, it supplied Al Bayader Irrigation with 1.50 mm HDPE liner membrane.

In the emirate of Fujairah, BMC worked on lining a tunnel at Kalba with GSE geotextile liners for Six Construct, as well as supplying a 1.50-mm HDPE liner to waterproof a dam for Dutco Construction.

Outside the UAE, Oman Mining Company contracted the company to provide lining for a pond in Sohar. For this project, BMC used a 2-mm HDPE liner with a leak detection system.

BMC Gulf's stand number is 4C171.