The Saudi Metal Ceiling Manufacturing Company (SMC) is using next month's SaudiBuild 2002 in Riyadh as a launch pad for its "newest and most innovative products".

The Jeddah-based company says it will be introducing new products in both the metal ceilings manufacturing and interior finishing products divisions. SMC continues to maintain its focus on providing the market with innovative products and concepts with the new launches, says vice president Mike Kildani.

At the exhibition, the company's metal ceilings division is presenting, for the first time, the new Dampa 'Wing', a revolutionary system based on the concept of sheet panels that can be bent at the installation stage. "The Wing system offers a spacious feel while maintaining complete flexibility in design and application," says Kildani.

SMC's interior finishing products division will also be displaying new custom-made motorised 'performance' blinds.

"The development of SMC's manual and motorised roller blinds range is a proactive process, emphasising the growing trend towards internal and external roller blind applications as a direct substitute to the traditional Venetian or vertical blinds systems," states Kildani.

"At the forefront of the roller blinds range is the 'Ultra 2000' which offers a solution to virtually any dimensional requirements as this custom-made motorised system has the capability of covering an area of 6 m width by 11 m height, making it ideal for frameless glass applications."

He says the innovation is the result of close cooperation in R&D with Somfy of France and Mottura of Italy.

SMC's scope of activities covers the design, manufacture and supply of architectural suspended metal ceiling systems and window treatment coverings, along with wall coverings, wall protection systems and expansion joints marked to hospitality, commercial, residential and the health-care industry.

The company has supplied to more than 20 airport and air base facilities in the region including Yemen's Aden International Airport, Queen Alia International Airport duty free section in Amman, Jordan and Jizan and Dawadmi airports in Saudi Arabia.

SMC has also played a big role in the health-care industry in the Kingdom completing several major projects such as the Saudi-Gulf Specialised Hospital in Qatif, King Fahd (Ministry of Defence and Aviation) G-200 extension project in Jeddah and Saudi German Hospital Group's (SGHG) 300-bed hospitals in Riyadh, Abha and Madinah. Other prestigious projects in which SMC has been involved are a girl's college in Jeddah, the children's rehabilitation centre in Hofuf, and both the Al Fasaliah Center and the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh.

SMC welcomes visitors to its Stand 431 at the event.