A new company, Gulf for Construction and Plastic Industries, has been established following the merger of the Riyadh-based Alrajhi Wooden and Metal Industries with a division of its sister firm Plasco.

Initial moves towards the amalgamation were started early last year when a production line from Plasco producing acrylic baths, shower trays, skylights and polyethylene film was brought under the wings of the new firm, according to Assad Al Sadi, sales and marketing manager.

Significant changes have been taking place within its wooden doors section with a change of brand name from Babco to Almarsa. This division manufactures wooden doors (panel doors, flush doors, blockboard panel doors and louvres); kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, built-in closets and vanity units.

The firm has also relocated its showroom in Riyadh from Al Takhassosi Street to a more plush facility on Prince Abdullah Street where its latest ranges of doors and kitchen cabinets have been put on display. The company's sales office has moved from its factory in Riyadh Industrial Area to the downtown showroom.

Gulf for Construction and Plastic Industries is currently involved in one of the most high-profile projects in Saudi Arabia - the Al Faisaliah Centre in Riyadh - for which it is supplying louvres, balcony decking and handrails for the hotel and the apartments. The total value of the contract is SR2 million.

It is also supplying about 3,000 doors for a Ministry of Defence housing project in Hafr Al Batin and has a number of jobs under negotiation. The firm recently completed supply of doors, kitchen cabinets and outdoor woodworks for the new Dira Tameer Centre, a residential and commercial building in Riyadh under a deal worth SR1.5 million.

Among the prestigious projects to which it supplied kitchen cabinets is the Taiba II commercial and residential complex in Madinah in a contract worth more than SR1 million.

The company, which originally started operation in 1991, manufactures doors, kitchen cabinets, vanity units, wardrobe, built-in closets and wood works. It has a production capacity of 3,000 doors and 500 sq m of wardrobes per year. Though its main market is the Kingdom, the firm exports to other GCC countries. Exports are seeing a 10 per cent growth this year compared to last year's figures, says Al Sadi.